Sports October 18, 2026 7:48 am
Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez completed successful surgery on a fractured jaw late on Saturday night after a heavy collision during Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Everton.
The incident occurred in the second half at Hill Dickinson Stadium when Martínez raced off his line to punch clear a free-kick.
He collided forcefully with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite and collapsed.
Medical staff treated the Argentine for nearly ten minutes on the pitch, administering oxygen and fitting a neck brace before stretchering him off to warm applause from both sets of supporters.
Young goalkeeper Mike Penders replaced him and helped preserve the clean sheet as Chelsea secured three valuable points.
In a post by football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano on X on Sunday, Martinez was quoted as saying,”The most important things are 3 points and clean sheet. I’ll be back in few weeks!”
For now, the focus remains on recovery. Martínez’s immediate priority, as ever, was the result and the clean sheet. True to form, the World Cup-winning goalkeeper has already turned his attention to the return.
Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.
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