Levi Colwill’s hopes for a strong start to the 2025/26 season have taken a big hit. Chelsea are now worried that the centre-back may be out for a long time after getting hurt in training. The problem happened at the end of the Blues’ first pre-season session at Cobham on Monday, just days before the Premier League starts up again.
The 22-year-old, who was thought to be an important part of Enzo Maresca’s defence, reportedly fell down in pain, which worried medical staff right away. The club hasn’t said what kind of injury Colwill has yet, but it’s bad enough that he had to go for a scan earlier this week.
Maresca said before Chelsea’s last preseason game that the club is getting ready for bad news. The head coach said:
“We had a problem the last two days with Levi Colwill… we don’t know how long he’s going to be out… hopefully, not too long, but for sure it’s a problem for us.”
Colwill’s injury means he won’t be able to play in Chelsea’s first Premier League game against Crystal Palace. It could also make the club rethink their transfer plans. Maresca is thought to see Colwill as a key part of his system because he can play the ball and is good at tactics, even though he has Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, and Wesley Fofana on defence.
Could Chelsea Turn to the Transfer Market?
If the scan shows a serious injury, Chelsea may have to look for a short-term replacement on the market. Reports say that recruitment staff are already looking into backup plans just in case.
The injury is also bad news for Colwill personally, as he had hoped to solidify his place under the new manager after a successful year that included playing for England at the senior level. The Blues are waiting for a medical update that will tell them if Colwill will be out for weeks or months.
The timing couldn’t be worse, since their season starts in just a few days. As the real work starts, Maresca and Chelsea may be missing a key part of their defence.