Chelsea have confirmed that captain Reece James has undergone successful knee surgery following an injury sustained in training last week.

James, 26, was hurt ahead of Chelsea's 5-1 Premier League victory over Bournemouth and subsequently required an operation. The club's medical team is now overseeing his rehabilitation, though no return date has been set.

A difficult run of fixtures ahead

Chelsea face a demanding stretch of upcoming matches, with a Premier League trip to Everton on the horizon, followed by home fixtures against Tottenham and Manchester United. A Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool falls between those two home games.

A troubling injury history

James has endured a difficult run of injuries in recent seasons, repeatedly missing international tournaments with England after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. However, his fitness improved considerably last season, enabling him to play a significant role in England's World Cup campaign — a run that ended with a bronze medal after the team reached the semi-finals.

The right-back had already stepped back from England's most recent international break, and the next fixture in the international calendar sees England scheduled to face Croatia at Wembley Stadium in early November.