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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Nizaar Kinsella

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana ruled out for months with devastating ACL injury

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana faces several months on the sidelines after requiring surgery to repair a major knee injury.

The centre-back had surgery on his ruptured ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) which usually rules footballers out for between six and nine months.

Chelsea’s medical department will handle the 22-year-old’s rehabilitation at the club’s training base in Cobham.

Mauricio Pochettino will have to contend without the £75million signing from Leicester for much of the coming season, having seen him miss 20 matches in his maiden season at Stamford Bridge.

A statement read: “Chelsea Football Club has today released the following statement about Wesley Fofana...

“Defender Wesley Fofana has undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery.

“The 22-year-old did not travel to America for the club's pre-season tour due to specialist medical assessments, which unfortunately confirmed that an operation would be required.

“Wesley will now begin his recovery and work with the club's medical department at Cobham during his rehabilitation phase.”

The one-time France international has struggled with injuries since breaking his leg in a pre-season game against Villarreal with Leicester in 2021.

At Chelsea, he has already suffered two meniscus injuries and a further cruciate ligament rupture.

Pochettino currently has 29 players out in the United States preparing for the new season but he is without Reece James through illness, while Armando Broja, Benoit Badiashile and Marcus Bettinelli all join Fofana on the injuy list.

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