Chelsea captain James faces lay-off after knee surgery

Chelsea's captain Reece James will be sidelined for several weeks following successful knee surgery, according to manager Xabi Alonso. The 26-year-old England international missed last week's 5-1 victory over Bournemouth due to an injury sustained in training. The club confirmed that assessments indicated surgery was necessary, and the defender has commenced his recovery process.

Alonso expressed disappointment, particularly for James, during a press conference on the eve of Chelsea's match against Everton. He stated that the team had taken a cautious approach and awaited the results of the tests before proceeding with the surgery. Alonso emphasized that James remains a significant influence on the team, even when sidelined, and wished him a speedy recovery. While no specific timeline was provided, Alonso indicated that James would be out of action for a period of several weeks.

James has a history of injuries over the past few seasons, which have forced him to miss considerable time. Last season, he had one of his best runs of games in recent years and was selected for England's 2026 World Cup squad. The right-back was among the five players who withdrew from England duty during the latest international break and is now expected to miss the upcoming international window in November. Currently, Chelsea sit sixth in the Premier League after six matches of the season.