Palmer suffers toe injury in further setback

Chelsea will be without star player Cole Palmer for their crunch clashes against Barcelona and Arsenal after he fractured his toe.

Palmer has spent much of this season on the sidelines.

Having sustained a groin injury in August, he then aggravated that issue upon his return to action in September.

Enzo Maresca had hoped to have the playmaker back in action following the November international break, but ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League game with Burnley this weekend, the Blues boss revealed Palmer had suffered another setback.

“He is probably not available for Saturday for sure, Barcelona for sure or Arsenal for sure,” said Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.

“Unfortunately, he had an accident at home where he hit his toe.

“It is nothing important, but he won’t be back in the next week.”

Burnley (A) is up next. pic.twitter.com/sPDGzB5M9P

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 21, 2025

Chelsea take on Barca in the Champions League next Tuesday, before hosting Premier League leaders Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on November 30.

Asked about how Palmer sustained his latest issue, Maresca added: “I wake up many times in the night to go to the toilet, I hit my head and leg and everything. It can happen.

“He was very close. He was back with us almost, from the groin [injury], which is very good news, but he has this small problem.

“We don’t know [about a timescale]. It’s fractured. The only thing we know he is not available for this week and next week.”