Latest Chelsea News: Wesley Fofana has undergone surgery for an ACL injury, causing him to miss out of Chelsea’s pre-season tour
Chelsea Football Club has confirmed that 22-year-old defender Wesley Fofana has undergone surgery to reconstruct his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. This setback is expected to rule him out for several months, adding to the injury woes he experienced during his debut season with the West Londoners in 2022-23.
Fofana, who joined Chelsea from Leicester City last summer in a £70 million transfer, struggled with injuries throughout his first season with the club. He suffered a knee injury that kept him sidelined for over four months, limiting him to just 12 Premier League starts. Prior to joining Chelsea, Fofana also endured a leg fracture during his time at Leicester, which resulted in only seven English top-flight appearances.
Unfortunately, Fofana’s injury woes continue ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, with Chelsea announcing that he will not be part of Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for their pre-season tour of the USA after undergoing ACL surgery. The club stated, “The 22-year-old did not travel to America for the club’s pre-season tour due to specialist medical assessments, which unfortunately confirmed that an operation would be required.”
Fofana will now begin the rehabilitation phase with the club’s medical department at Cobham as he starts the recovery process. Typically, recovery from an ACL injury takes between six to nine months, meaning Fofana is facing another extended period on the sidelines.
The injury news comes amidst a major overhaul of Chelsea’s first-team players this summer, with the club generating significant funds from player sales and securing new signings. With Fofana’s absence, Chelsea is likely to explore the transfer market for a new central defender to bolster their defensive options.
Chelsea supporters will undoubtedly be disappointed to see Fofana sidelined once again, but they will hope for a successful recovery and a strong return to action. In the meantime, the team will continue their preparations for the new season, focusing on maintaining their competitive edge and readiness for upcoming challenges.
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