Emiliano Martinez has undergone successful surgery on a fractured jaw and has vowed to be back "in a few weeks" — a remarkably upbeat verdict less than a day after the Chelsea goalkeeper was carried off on a stretcher at Everton following a sickening collision with Jarrad Branthwaite.
Chelsea confirmed on Sunday that the operation had gone to plan, and the 34-year-old Argentina international was quick to calm fears from his hospital bed. As theScore reported, Martinez wrote on social media: "Thanks to everyone for the messages. The operation went well. The most important thing is that we won, and kept a clean sheet. We'll be back in a few weeks."
Eight Minutes of Treatment, Then the Diagnosis
The injury happened during the second half of Saturday's 2-0 win at Hill Dickinson Stadium — the game in which Pedro Neto scored twice to end Everton's unbeaten start. Martinez contested a ball with Branthwaite, came off far worse, and needed eight minutes of treatment on the pitch before being carried off and taken to hospital.
Xabi Alonso said afterwards that the goalkeeper had suffered a concussion but was conscious as he left the stadium. Sunday's news was both worse and better than that first assessment suggested: the jaw was fractured and needed surgery, but the procedure was successful, Martinez is expected back in London on Sunday, and his wife Amanda told supporters he is "OK, nothing serious, and soon he will be back to normal."
Penders Steps Into the Deep End
Martinez's absence hands the gloves to Mike Penders, the 21-year-old Belgian who replaced him at Everton to make his Premier League debut — and helped Chelsea keep their first league clean sheet of the season. Penders joined from Genk in August 2024 and has spent the past two seasons out on loan, including a spell at Strasbourg last term.
Alonso has made it clear the youngster has his full backing. "Mike has personality, he's brave and we have full trust with him," the Chelsea manager said, in comments also carried by SuperSport. It is some vote of confidence, because the fixtures waiting for Penders are anything but gentle.
What This Means for Chelsea's Next Three Games
Chelsea, fourth in the table and eight points behind leaders Manchester City, now face Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in the Premier League with a Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool in between — three season-shaping games with a 21-year-old debutant in goal. It is the last thing Alonso needed in a season already disrupted by injury, with captain Reece James also facing a long spell out after knee surgery.
The flip side is opportunity. Chelsea signed Penders as a goalkeeper of the future, and the future has just arrived early. A strong fortnight would not displace a fit Martinez, but it would settle a position that has caused the club headaches for years — and give Alonso a genuine selection dilemma when his World Cup winner returns.
Beyond the Final Whistle: A fractured jaw sounds like a season-wrecker, so Martinez targeting a return in a few weeks tells you everything about the man Chelsea bought — but the real story of the next fortnight is Penders. Thrown in against Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United, the 21-year-old can either become Chelsea's coming man or expose how thin the squad still is behind its first choice. Will Penders seize his chance, or will Chelsea rush Martinez back? Tell us in the comments.
