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Chelsea defender Levi Colwill has been ruled out for an extended period after undergoing surgery on an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, in what is a major setback for both player and club ahead of the new season. The news was confirmed on Thursday evening after head coach Enzo Maresca had initially expressed concerns following a knock Colwill sustained in training earlier in the week.
Speaking at Cobham on Thursday morning, Maresca revealed that the 22-year-old suffered the injury during the final minutes of Chelsea’s first pre-season session on Monday.
“We had a problem the last two days with Levi Colwill. We don’t know how long he is going to be out,” Maresca said. “Hopefully not too long, but for sure it’s a problem for us. We need to wait; we don’t know yet [what the specific injury is].”
Unfortunately, any hope of a minor issue was soon dismissed. By the evening, Chelsea officially confirmed that Colwill required knee surgery — a significant blow for the Blues, who considered the young defender a key figure heading into the 2025/26 season.
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Colwill’s importance to Maresca’s plans cannot be overstated. A composed and confident ball-playing centre-back, the Cobham graduate was widely praised for his performances last season. So much so, that Maresca had tipped him to be a future captain of the club.
“Levi, even if he is not wearing the armband, is one of the captains,” the Italian said earlier this year. “In the future, he could be a captain of this club.”
In light of the injury, Maresca admitted that Chelsea might be forced into the transfer market to find defensive cover before the window closes on September 1.
“We know each other from last year, and you know how important Levi has been. I told him that if we achieved what we achieved last year, it is also because of him – he was a main player for us.”
Following the announcement, support for Colwill poured in from teammates and fans alike. Trevoh Chalobah, another product of Chelsea’s academy, shared a heartfelt message on social media:
“We are all behind you bro. You will be back stronger,” Chalobah wrote.
Midfielder Romeo Lavia and right-back Malo Gusto also posted encouraging words on Instagram, a clear sign of the strong camaraderie in the Chelsea dressing room.
Despite this setback, Colwill’s rise under Maresca has been one of the club’s brightest stories. Back in March, Colwill spoke highly of his manager’s influence on his development:
“I think with Maresca, the way he thinks about football is light years above everyone else,” he told the BBC. “He is pushing me to understand football in a different way. That’s why I’m very blessed to play football under him and learn as much as possible.”
As Colwill begins his recovery, Chelsea fans will be hoping to see him back stronger than ever — leading from the back as he continues his journey toward becoming one of the club’s foundational figures.
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