The key facts

  • Martínez suffered a jaw fracture and a concussion in a collision with Branthwaite in the second half of the match against Everton (2:0)
  • The player received eight minutes of treatment on the pitch and was carried off on a stretcher; the surgery was successful
  • 21-year-old Mike Penders will likely come in as a replacement, having made his Premier League debut in the same game

Injury in the match against Everton

Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez suffered a jaw fracture during the team's away 2:0 victory over Everton in a Premier League match at Hill Dickinson Stadium. According to AFP, in the second half the goalkeeper collided with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, after which he required eight minutes of treatment right on the pitch. The goalkeeper was carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital. Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso said after the game that Martínez had, among other things, been diagnosed with a concussion.

Surgery and return timeline

The next day, the 34-year-old Argentine posted a photo from his hospital room on social media and said the surgery had been successful. 'Thank you all for the messages. The surgery went well. Most importantly, we won and kept a clean sheet. We'll be back in a few weeks,' Martínez wrote.

Who will replace Martínez

While Martínez recovers, his place in the lineup is expected to be taken by 21-year-old Mike Penders, who came on as a substitute in the match against Everton and thus made his Premier League debut. Penders joined Chelsea from Belgian club Genk in August 2024 and spent the last two seasons on loan, including last season at Strasbourg.