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Chelsea's Martinez to Return in a Few Weeks After Surgery
· Confirmed
In Short: Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez will return to action in a few weeks after undergoing surgery following a clash of heads during the team's 2-0 Premier League win against Everton on Saturday.
Martinez collided with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite during a free kick in the second half, resulting in a fractured jaw that required emergency surgery.
The 34-year-old Argentine was stretchered off the field and taken to a local hospital for precautionary tests and subsequent surgery.
Martinez's injury ended a 22-game run without a clean sheet for Chelsea, who now sit in fourth place in the Premier League table.
Penders, who signed from Belgium club Genk for £17m in 2024, played a crucial role in Chelsea's victory, contributing to the team's first clean sheet in nine months.
Chelsea's next match is against Tottenham Hotspur, followed by a League Cup game against Liverpool and a Premier League match against Manchester United.
Martinez posted on Instagram after the surgery, thanking supporters and confirming his return in a few weeks.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso confirmed Martinez was conscious and undergoing tests at the hospital after the match.
The clash of heads halted the match for over eight minutes while medical personnel attended to Martinez on the pitch.
Martinez's clean sheet on Saturday was his first in six games for Chelsea since his summer arrival from Aston Villa.
The goalkeeper's injury has raised concerns about his recovery timeline, with some reports suggesting he could be out for at least 40 days.
Chelsea fans and supporters have rallied around Martinez, wishing him a speedy recovery and expressing hope for his return.
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What this adds
Martinez's injury has shifted focus to his recovery and the performance of his replacement, Mike Penders, who secured the clean sheet in his debut.
Background
Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez will be back in a few weeks after undergoing surgery following a clash of heads during a match against Everton.
What's confirmed
- The Chelsea number one was concussed after a nasty clash of heads Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez says he expects to be “back in a few weeks” after undergoing surgery following a severe clash of heads on Saturday.
- Martinez and Jarrad Branthwaite came together on Saturday when Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall whipped a free kick into the box, and although the Everton defender was back on his feet after treatment, the Chelsea goalkeeper required treatment from paramedics.
- Chelsea host Tottenham Hotspur in the league next Saturday, followed by a League Cup fourth-round game at Liverpool on October 28 and a home Premier League match against Manchester United three days later.
- Emiliano Martinez joined Chelsea this summer after six seasons at Aston Villa Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez says he will be fit "in a few weeks" after having an operation following the 2-0 Premier League win at Everton on Saturday.
- Penders, 21, signed from Belgium club Genk for £17m in 2024.
- Martinez collided Saturday with Jarrad Branthwaite as the pair challenged for a cross and after more than eight minutes of treatment, the Argentina international was carried off on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance.
- Speaking immediately after the match, Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso said that Martinez had been taken to hospital for “precautionary tests”.
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- Chelsea coach Xabi Alonso had earlier confirmed that Martinez was conscious when he left the stadium and had been taken to hospital for precautionary examinations.
- The Chelsea goalkeeper said he would be “back in a few weeks” after an operation that followed a frightening head injury in Saturday’s Premier League win over Everton.
- Penders, a Belgian youth international, will likely have to step in until Martinez is cleared to return to training.
- LONDON, Oct 18 — Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said he would be fit to return “in a few weeks” following surgery on a fractured jaw sustained during his team’s 2-0 Premier League win at Everton.
What's still developing
- Emi Martínez says his operation went well and he’ll be back in a few weeks 🙏 Wishing him a speedy recovery ❤️ pic.twitter.com/7QI4sRUBkO The World Cup winner was carefully immobilised, stretchered off the field, and taken directly to a waiting ambulance before being transported to a local hospital for emergency evaluation and subsequent surgery.
- Martinez subsequently underwent surgery late on Saturday, with the procedure reported to have been successful.
- The result handed Chelsea three valuable points, while Martinez’s injury has shifted attention towards his recovery and rehabilitation.
- Related News Iwobi matches Osaze’s record in Abeloa’s first win EPL: Iwobi’s strike ends Fulham’s winless start EPL: Haaland double fires Man City past Ipswich as Liverpool edge Brentford 2-1 Young goalkeeper Mike Penders replaced him and helped preserve the clean sheet as Chelsea secured three valuable points.
- True to form, the World Cup-winning goalkeeper has already turned his attention to the return.
- The Argentina goalkeeper later posted a photo of himself in a hospital bed on Instagram, writing: “Thank you for all the messages, the operation went well.” He added: “We’ll be back in a few weeks.” Martinez had earlier played his part in Chelsea’s 2-0 win that also earned his side their first Premier League clean sheet in nine months.
- Both players received treatment on the pitch, but Branthwaite recovered quickly, while Martínez required extended medical attention from Chelsea’s medical staff and paramedics.
- The fee was reported at £7.5 million, and he arrived as the 2022 World Cup winner who had twice won the Yashin Trophy as the world’s best goalkeeper.
- Martínez, 34, collided with Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite when rushing from his goal to attempt to punch an Everton free kick out of his penalty area in the 67th minute of Chelsea 's 2-0 win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
- Before his premature exit, Martinez had played a key role in repelling David Moyes’ side, including producing a sharp first-half save to tip Jack Grealish’s effort over the crossbar.
- While the three points provided plenty of reason for optimism, all eyes now turn to Martinez’s road to recovery over the coming weeks.
- The full force of Branthwaite’s head connected squarely with Martínez, who was left with a fractured jaw, Chelsea have revealed.