Chelsea’s Colwill Faces Long Recovery After ACL Surgery

Levi Colwill, a defender for Chelsea Football Club, has undergone successful surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained during preseason training. The club confirmed that medical assessments determined surgery was necessary, marking the start of a lengthy recovery period for the 22-year-old player.

The injury occurred during the first training session of the week, shortly after Chelsea’s recent triumph in the Club World Cup final, where they claimed victory just three weeks earlier. Manager Enzo Maresca expressed his concerns about Colwill’s condition during a news conference, revealing that the injury happened near the end of the session.

“It was in the first session on Monday, just in the last minutes of the session,” Maresca stated. “He felt something, and as I said, we need to wait and then we see. We don’t know how long he is going to be out. I spoke with him yesterday and I told him that if we achieve what we achieved last year, it is also because of him — he was a main player for us.”

Colwill enjoyed a standout season with Chelsea, making 43 appearances across all competitions. His contributions were instrumental in the club finishing fourth in the Premier League and winning both the FA Cup and the Club World Cup.

Chelsea’s Premier League campaign is set to begin at home on August 17, 2023. The absence of Colwill could pave the way for Mitchell van Bergen, a new signing from Ajax, to step into a more prominent role within the team.

As the club navigates this setback, the focus will now shift to recovery and preparation for the upcoming season, with fans and teammates alike wishing Colwill a speedy return to the pitch.