Chelsea ROCKED as €30m star ruled out until 2026

Robin Bairner

11 Sept 2025 10:15 BST
3 min read

Dario Essugo, Chelsea, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Chelsea have been left stunned by a second serious injury to a new signing, who will join Liam Delap on the sidelines for the foreseeable future.

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Delap pulled up injured in the Premier League victory over Fulham immediately prior to the international break. The former Manchester City and Ipswich striker faces several weeks on the sidelines, with his return to training pencilled in for November, according to TalkSport.

But Chelsea have not been so fortunate in the case of Dario Essugo, who may not play again in 2025 after suffering a thigh injury while on international duty with Portugal U21.

Current ETV

Dário Essugo

DM, M (C)

Chelsea

Dário Essugo

DM, M (C)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€26.4M - €32.2M

Essugo announced the injury himself on social media, posting an image from his hospital bed after undergoing surgery.

The 20-year-old midfielder said: “Unfortunately, during this international break with the National Team I felt something in my thigh that required surgery and will keep me out for a while.

“It’s frustrating to start the season like this, especially after already facing another setback not long ago. But I truly believe everything happens for a reason. God has a bigger plan. I’ll be back stronger.”

The Athletic reports that Chelsea believe he will be out for a “minimum of 12 weeks” and that he “may not be available for selection until 2026”.

What does Essugo’s injury mean for Chelsea?

Although Essugo had yet to make his debut in the Premier League, his absence will still come as a sizeable blow to manager Enzo Maresca.

Essugo has been added to the Blues’ panel to act as backup to Moises Caicedo and would have expected to see significant game time during the busy autumn period, in which Chelsea will face the additional challenge of Champions League football.

Last term, Maresca was able to use a fringe team for the club’s Conference League fixtures, but he will not have that luxury again this time around as the Blues step up a level.

Caicedo will, therefore, be expected to play a high number of minutes early in the season.

Signed from Sporting CP in the summer for €22.3m, Essugo’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has already leapt to €29.3m off the back of his three appearances with the Stamford Bridge outfit.

He joins Delap and centre-back Levi Colwill on Chelsea’s long-term injury list, with the centre-back not expected to return until the closing stages of the season after an ACL rupture.