Chelsea suffered a worrying setback during their Premier League meeting with Everton after goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was stretchered off following a collision with defender Jarrad Branthwaite at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

According to a report by Football London on Saturday, October 17, 2026, the incident occurred when Martínez attempted to deal with a dangerous free kick delivered by Kieran Dewsbury-Hall. The Chelsea goalkeeper punched the ball away but appeared to collide head-to-head with Branthwaite during the aerial challenge.

Both players required medical attention, prompting concern among their teammates and supporters as they received treatment on the pitch. Martínez remained down while medical staff assessed his condition before he was eventually carried off on a stretcher.

The Argentine goalkeeper was reportedly responsive as he was taken off the field, although the full extent of his injury had not been established at the time of publication. Further medical examinations will be necessary to determine the severity of the problem and whether he will be available for Chelsea’s upcoming fixtures.

Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso was subsequently forced to make a change between the posts, introducing Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders to replace Martínez. The unexpected substitution disrupted the visitors’ plans as they continued their efforts to secure a positive result against Everton.

The incident also highlighted the seriousness of head injuries in football, with such collisions requiring careful medical assessment before a player can safely return to action. Chelsea will be hoping for encouraging news regarding Martínez’s condition, although no conclusions can be drawn about his recovery timeline until further information becomes available.

Despite the interruption, Chelsea continued to push forward after taking the lead shortly after half-time. Pedro Neto broke the deadlock just 44 seconds into the second period, finishing a move involving Morgan Rogers and Jorrel Hato to give the visitors an important advantage.

With Martínez’s condition remaining the main concern following the incident, attention will now turn to the results of his medical assessment and whether his absence could affect Chelsea’s plans for the matches ahead.