Fabrizio Romano reports that Chelsea have been hit with yet another injury setback, as Reece James has been forced to withdraw from the England squad due to a fitness issue.
🚨⚠️ Reece James’ injury seen as not serious, he won’t be out for long time as Chelsea are also optimistic.
Sources confirm the decision to withdraw from England squad was precautionary.
pic.twitter.com/Hg0ed5giL4— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano)
October 6, 2025
The 25-year-old, who came through Chelsea’s academy and made his senior debut in 2019, was once regarded as one of the brightest young defenders in English football. His early performances hinted at huge potential, but persistent injuries have continued to stall his progress and prevent him from enjoying a full, uninterrupted season.
Under Enzo Maresca, James has featured consistently this campaign, making nine appearances across the Premier League and Champions League. His recent form had earned him a recall to Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the October internationals.
However, after sustaining a knock during the clash with Liverpool last weekend, James — currently valued at around £26 million by Transfermarkt — has been forced to withdraw from the national team setup. Manchester City youngster Nico O’Reilly has been drafted in as his replacement.
Injuries have been a recurring theme for Chelsea this season, particularly in defence. Levi Colwill is sidelined long-term with a serious knee injury, while Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo are also expected to miss several weeks. Benoît Badiashile and Josh Acheampong both suffered setbacks against Liverpool, leaving Maresca short of options at the back.
The problems don’t end there — attackers Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, and Andrey Santos are also nursing injuries.
Despite their ongoing struggles, Chelsea ended a three-game winless run in the Premier League with a morale-boosting victory over Liverpool last weekend, sealed by a late goal from Estevão Willian. The Blues will hope to carry that momentum into their next league outing against Nottingham Forest on October 18, once the international break concludes.
As featured on Chelseanews.com
