According to a report by GiveMeSport on October 18, 2026, injured Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez appears to have revealed how long he could be sidelined after undergoing surgery for a fractured jaw.

The Argentine goalkeeper suffered the injury during Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday. Chelsea secured a 2-0 victory, with Pedro Neto scoring twice in the second half, but the result was overshadowed by Martinez’s worrying injury.

The 34-year-old sustained the injury after colliding with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite while attempting to deal with a free-kick delivered into Chelsea’s penalty area. Martinez required urgent medical attention and was given oxygen while lying on the pitch.

Medical staff treated the goalkeeper for approximately nine minutes before he was carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital for further examination.

Speaking after the match, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso confirmed that Martinez had suffered a concussion, although he admitted that he did not yet know the full extent of the injury.

Alonso said the goalkeeper had left the stadium conscious and was undergoing precautionary tests at the hospital. He also expressed hope that the injury would not prove too serious.

However, subsequent examinations reportedly revealed a fractured jaw, requiring the former Aston Villa goalkeeper to undergo surgery.

Martinez has since provided an encouraging update on his condition through social media. Sharing a message from his hospital bed, the Argentine confirmed that his operation had gone well and thanked supporters for their messages.

“The operation went well. The most important thing is that we won with a clean sheet. We’ll be back in a few weeks,” Martinez wrote.

His statement suggests that he expects to return within a matter of weeks, although it does not confirm an exact date for his comeback.

Argentine journalist César Luis Merlo has reportedly claimed that Martinez could be sidelined for around 40 days. If that estimate proves accurate, Chelsea could be without their first-choice goalkeeper for several important fixtures.

The Blues are scheduled to face Tottenham Hotspur on October 24, Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on October 28 and Manchester United on October 31. Martinez could also miss Premier League encounters against Sunderland on November 8, Leeds United on November 21 and Nottingham Forest on November 27.

Nevertheless, the 40-day timeframe remains a reported estimate rather than a confirmed medical timeline from Chelsea.

Meanwhile, Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders made his Chelsea debut after replacing Martinez against Everton. The 21-year-old could now be handed further opportunities while the Argentine recovers from his injury.