Palmer ruled out after home accident as Chelsea enter crucial stretch

November 21, 2025 Oliver Obel

Chelsea will head into one of their most demanding weeks of the season without Cole Palmer, after the midfielder fractured a toe in what manager Enzo Maresca described as an accident at the player’s home.

Palmer had only recently returned to team training following a groin problem that kept him out for several weeks. According to The Daily Mail, hopes of a timely comeback were halted once club medical staff confirmed the latest injury earlier in the week.

Maresca: “He was very close”

Speaking before Saturday’s match at Burnley, Maresca told reporters that Palmer had been nearing full fitness. The Italian said the club viewed his recovery from the groin issue as “very good news,” but the new setback means the 23-year-old will remain unavailable in the short term.

Since joining Chelsea from Manchester City in 2023, Palmer has become a key part of the team’s attacking structure, contributing 45 goals and 29 assists in 101 appearances. His absence adds to a growing list of fitness concerns that have shaped Chelsea’s tactical decisions this season.

Misses three fixtures

Maresca confirmed that Palmer will sit out the Premier League meeting with Scott Parker’s Burnley, followed by Tuesday’s Champions League tie against Barcelona and the league clash with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

The manager stressed that the injury is not considered long-term. He said Palmer hit his toe during the home incident and that scans revealed a fracture, preventing any immediate return to training.

Looking ahead

Chelsea will now look to alternative options in attack as they navigate a congested fixture list that Maresca recently described as “one of the most challenging periods since the campaign began.” Palmer, regarded as one of the league’s most composed penalty takers, is expected to be reassessed next week.

Source: The Daily Mail

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