Chelsea injury update: Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, Benoit Badiashile latest news and return dates | OneFootball

Blues talisman is now a doubt to face Fulham

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dom Smith

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Chelsea shook off a rusty start to the season by thumping West Ham last week, and did it without their talisman Cole Palmer.

But Enzo Maresca was forced into a change just minutes before kick-off when Palmer was unable to complete his warm-up.

Here’s a look at the latest Chelsea injury news...

Cole Palmer

Cole Palmer withdrew from the starting line-up minutes before kick-off after feeling discomfort in his groin during the warm-up.

Brazilian winger Estevao was quickly handed a full debut, that included an assist for Enzo Fernandes, and Enzo Maresca revealed after the game that Palmer had been struggling with a knock since before the start of the season.

"Cole, in the last four or five days, was not 100%. Today, he tried to warm up, but he felt something,” Maresca told reporters.

“So, we prefer not to take any risk to get worse, and we'll see now in the next hours if it's something important or not.

"Probably (for the) Palace game he was not 100%. But he is trying to make a big effort for the club, for the team, for the fans. Because he is really keen about the team. Tonight, again, he tried again. But it was not very good.”

Potential return date: Unknown

Romeo Lavia

Romeo Lavia has been sidelined for a number of weeks, last being seen completing 85 minutes in a round of 16 win over Benfica at the Club World Cup.

He suffered a ‘small muscle problem’ between that match and the quarter-final win over Palmeiras, and has not been pictured in training since.

The severity of his injury remains unclear, with Enzo Maresca simply offering “he’s out” when asked for an update on Friday.

Benoit Badiashile

Chelsea’s defensive injuries were compounded when Benoit Badiashile picked up a knock in their Club World Cup win over Benfica.

The Frenchman was not in the squad for either of Chelsea’s pre-season friendlies last week, but is thought to be in individual training at Chelsea’s Cobham training base.

He is due to return in September.

Potential return date: Brentford (a) on Saturday, September 13, 2025

Levi Colwill

Levi Colwill appears to be the first victim of Chelsea’s hectic 2025 schedule.

After impressing at the Club World Cup, he picked up an ACL injury in training after returning from a brief summer break and has since undergone surgery.

He is expected to miss most of the 2025-26 season.

A statement published on Chelsea’s official website on Thursday read: “Defender Levi Colwill has today undergone successful surgery to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

“Levi will now begin his recovery and be supported by the club's medical department at Cobham during his rehabilitation phase.”

Potential return date: Spring 2026