Chelsea will look to get back on track when they play Everton in the Premier League this weekend.
Enzo Maresca's side are now without a win in four games across all competitions as defeat by Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday night followed up draws with Arsenal and Bournemouth as well as the loss to Leeds.
There have been few positives to emerge for Chelsea during this run, one being Cole Palmer playing for almost an hour in his first start since September against the Cherries and is expected to return for the visit of the Toffees after being rested for the trip to Italy.
Midfielder Moises Caicedo was able to play in Europe but serves the final game of his three-match suspension, but defender Wesley Fofana is doubtful after sustaining a freak injury in the second half against Atalanta.
With that in mind, here is the latest Chelsea injury news and return dates…
Wesley Fofana
The Frenchman was named as a substitute in Bergamo with Maresca still managing his minutes. However, with Trevoh Chalobah on a booking from the first half, Fofana was introduced at half time.
Though he lasted just 30 minutes before he had to be replaced himself, by Tosin Adarabioyo at centre-back, forcing Chelsea into an unplanned use of their final allotted substitution.
In a freak accident, Fofana and Atalanta goalscorer Gianluca Scamacca fell to the ground after a duel and one of the studs on the striker’s boot made contact with right eye.
He could later be seen holding his eye and struggling to see out of it.
An update from Maresca suggests Fofana should be available to face Everton at the weekend.
“He had a problem with his eye,” Maresca said. “It’s quite bad. He’s struggling to see. Hopefully he can be available for Everton on Saturday.”
Potential return date: Saturday, December 13 vs Everton (H)
Liam Delap
Chelsea were dealt a fresh injury blow when Liam Delap went straight down the tunnel after being replaced by Marc Guiu in the first half against Bournemouth.
Delap tangled with Cherries defender Marcos Senesi before landing awkwardly on his shoulder. The striker appeared to be in serious pain and was seen to by doctors before being brought off.
Speaking in the post-match press conference, Maresca delivered an update: “Unfortunately, he was already out for two months, and he has to be out again.
“We don't know for how long, but it looks quite bad, his shoulder. He has been unlucky. He was out for two months already. Now he has to be out again.
“Also we are a bit unlucky because we need that kind of a No9. We tried today with Marc [Guiu]. But, yes, it’s an injury.”
Standard Sport understands there is optimism at Chelsea that he could return after four weeks rather than being sidelined for a longer period.
Potential return date: Early January 2026
Romeo Lavia
Romeo Lavia has had no luck with injuries during his time at Chelsea so far, making only 29 appearances since moving from Southampton in a £53million transfer in the summer of 2023.
His latest setback came in the Champions League clash away at Qarabag on November 5 and Enzo Maresca has recently delivered a rather concerning update regarding the midfielder.
“It's a muscle problem,” Maresca said on Friday morning ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League trip to Bournemouth. “We don't know yet when he can be back.”
Pushed on whether Lavia is expected to be a short-term or long-term absentee, Maresca replied: “We don't know.”
Potential return date: Unknown
Dario Essugo
Dario Essugo has been out of action since picking up a thigh injury while on international duty with Portugal’s Under-21s in September and requiring an operation.
Essugo was expected to come back either in late 2025 or early 2026, though he had returned to training earlier than expected and was seen as an option to cover for the suspended Caicedo.
However, the midfielder is set to miss out against Atalanta and Everton after being ordered to “slow down a little bit” due to a small setback sustained in training.
“For sure, he [Essugo] is not available for the next three games,” Maresca told reporters. “I don’t think [it is serious]. We need to check him, as it happened yesterday. Unfortunately it was just yesterday so I don’t know.”
Potential return date: Tuesday, December 16 vs Cardiff (A)
Levi Colwill
Levi Colwill has not played at all for Chelsea this season, having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury shortly after their return for pre-season training at Cobham in August following the Club World Cup.
He underwent surgery and was expected to miss most of the campaign.
There have been few updates on Colwill since, though the Daily Mail reported earlier in November that he had been off crutches for a month with his recovery progressing well with no setbacks.
It has been suggested that he could yet be back before the end of the season.
