What happened: Chelsea captain Reece James will miss approximately three months after undergoing minor knee surgery for an injury sustained in training prior to the 5-1 win over AFC Bournemouth. The 26-year-old has begun rehabilitation with club medical staff and is not expected to return until 2027.

Why it matters: Manager Xabi Alonso had converted James into a full-time midfielder this season and ruled out entering the January transfer market to report/article/chelsea-hijack-inter-to-sign-atalanta-right-back-palestra-in-2026-06-24">a Chelsea side</a> that sold prior vice-captain Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City for £125m in the summer. Defender Levi Colwill has assumed the captaincy for recent Premier League fixtures against Brentford and AFC Bournemouth.

What to watch: Chelsea face upcoming Premier League home matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United surrounding a Carabao Cup trip to Liverpool, while England play Croatia at Wembley Stadium in early November.