Chelsea captain Reece James has undergone surgery on a knee injury suffered during the club’s 5-1 win over Bournemouth, with no timeframe yet given for his return.
The setback is another blow for the 26-year-old right-back, whose recent run of improved fitness has been interrupted just as the new campaign began.
Reece James injury record at Chelsea
James made 24 appearances in all competitions during the 2022/23 season and missed the 2022 World Cup with England. He featured only 10 times the following campaign, ruling him out of Euro 2024.
His availability improved in 2024/25, when he played 32 matches, although that still represented only half of Chelsea’s Premier League fixtures.
James went on to make 39 appearances in all competitions last season and was able to represent England at the World Cup, despite experiencing further fitness problems during the tournament.
Chelsea will now have to manage without one of their most important players once again, although they have options at right-back. Malo Gusto provides cover for the position, while Marco Palestra was also signed during the summer.
