Reece James has undergone successful minor knee surgery

Chelsea have confirmed that Reece James has undergone successful minor knee surgery, delivering another injury setback for manager Xabi Alonso.

The 26-year-old defender missed Saturday’s 5-1 victory over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge after sustaining an injury during training. Medical examinations subsequently established that an operation was necessary.

In an official statement, the London club confirmed the procedure had gone well and revealed that James had already begun his rehabilitation programme at Cobham, where medical staff will supervise his recovery.

The setback comes at an unfortunate moment for Chelsea, who are also dealing with injuries to Jamie Gittens and Emmanuel Emegha while seeking greater consistency in their results.

No official return date has been announced for James. His recovery progress will determine how long he remains unavailable, leaving the Blues awaiting further updates on their captain’s fitness and potential comeback in the coming weeks.