Wesley Fofana has undergone surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), Chelsea have announced.
It is the latest in a series of injuries that have dogged the 22-year-old centre-back's Premier League career.
In August 2021 he broke his leg while playing for Leicester City, ruling him out for seven months. And after joining Chelsea in the summer of 2022, he suffered a knee injury in October which sidelined him for another four months.
The Frenchman has been restricted to just 24 Premier League appearances over the last two seasons and is now beginning another long period of recovery.
"Defender Wesley Fofana has undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery," a statement read on Chelsea's official website.
All the best in your recovery, Wesley 🤞
— Premier League (@premierleague) July 18, 2023
"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."
Options limited for Chelsea
With Fofana's injury, Kalidou Koulibaly's departure from the club and Benoit Badiashile still recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered at the end of last season, Chelsea are light on options in defence.
They currently have Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill, who spent last season on-loan at Brighton & Hove Albion, as their only recognised senior centre-backs.
The Blues are one of six teams in action in the Premier League Summer Series, with their first match of the tournament coming against Brighton on Saturday in Philadelphia.
