Chelsea have confirmed that rising star Levi Colwill has undergone successful surgery on a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained during the very first pre-season training session at Cobham. The 22-year-old defender is expected to be sidelined for six to nine months, effectively ruling him out for the majority of the 2025–26 campaign and dealing a major blow to manager Enzo Maresca’s plans.
The injury leaves Chelsea without one of their most consistent performers from last season, when Colwill started 35 of 38 league matches. While supporters and pundits speculated that the club might move swiftly for a defensive reinforcement, Fabrizio Romano has reported that no such signing will be made. Instead, the club intends to place full trust in the existing squad, which now includes 19-year-old Jorrel Hato, recently signed from Ajax and capable of playing both at centre-back and left-back.
Maresca has praised Hato’s maturity, citing his leadership experience and more than 100 senior appearances at such a young age, but also acknowledged that the Premier League presents a different challenge to the Eredivisie. Chelsea will also rely on Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoît Badiashile, and Trevoh Chalobah, though questions remain over Fofana’s injury record and Badiashile’s inconsistency.
The decision not to dip into the transfer market is seen as a bold gamble, particularly given the long and demanding season ahead. With Colwill beginning his rehabilitation and the defensive unit under scrutiny, Chelsea’s ability to adapt and maintain solidity at the back could define their campaign. The club’s faith in youth and internal options will now be put to the sternest of tests when the Premier League season begins against Crystal Palace on August 17.
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