Wesley Fofana: Chelsea defender set to be out for months after undergoing ACL surgery
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Updated 18/07/2023 at 16:02 GMT+1
Wesley Fofana could be out for up to nine months after undergoing surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament injury. ACL surgery usually rules a player out of action for six to nine months. It is a blow for Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino as he looks to build a new-look starting XI ahead of the 2023-24 Premier League season which gets underway on August 11.
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Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has undergone anterior cruciate ligament surgery which will rule him out for several months.
The 22-year-old did not travel with the Blues squad on a pre-season tour to the United States in order to have "specialist medical assessments".
A statement from Chelsea has confirmed that the France centre back required an operation.
The statement read: "Defender Wesley Fofana has undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery.
"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.
"Wesley will now begin his recovery and work with the club's medical department at Cobham during his rehabilitation phase."
Fofana joined Chelsea from Leicester for £70m last summer and played 22 times last season. The defender was set to play a more influential role this season following the departure of defenders Kalidou Koulibaly to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal and former club captain Cesar Azpilicueta to La Liga side Atletico Madrid.
Chelsea's 29-man travelling squad for their pre-season tour of the United States includes new signings Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Angelo Gabriel, Diego Moreira and Dujuan Richards, plus Malo Gusto and Andrey Santos, who both joined in January before being sent straight back out on loan.
Jamaica international Richards has been given a "training only" role.
Mauricio Pochettino will take charge of his team for the first time against Wrexham in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on Wednesday night.
Chelsea will then face a trio of Premier League opponents in Brighton (July 22), Newcastle (July 26) and Fulham (July 30) in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Landover respectively.
The tour concludes with a match against Borussia Dortmund in Chicago on August 2.
Chelsea's opening Premier League game of the season is against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on August 13.
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