Chelsea’s new first‑choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was rushed to hospital for precautionary tests after a collision at Everton, raising doubts over his availability for the next three Premier League fixtures. The Argentine, who joined the Blues from Aston Villa for £7.5 million, was involved in a high‑speed clash with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite in the 68th minute of the 2‑0 win at Goodison Park. Martinez was seen leaving the ground conscious but was taken to the hospital to undergo tests for a suspected concussion, according to manager Xabi Alonso.
Alonso said he had only seen one clip of the incident and that the team would need to wait for the medical assessment before deciding on Martinez’s fitness. “We need to wait. Hopefully it will not be too serious,” he added. The injury came at a time when Chelsea were celebrating their first Premier League clean sheet in nine months, a streak that had stretched back to a 2‑0 victory over Brentford in January. The win over Everton, which featured two goals from Pedro Neto, was a key moment in a season where the Blues had struggled to keep opponents from scoring, having conceded a league‑high 13 goals before the match.
With Martinez potentially sidelined, the club turned to Mike Penders, who made his Premier League debut for Chelsea in the same game. The 21‑year‑old keeper, signed from Genk for £17 million in 2024 and loaned back to the Belgian side, had spent the previous season on loan at Strasbourg. Penders, a product of the Genk academy that has produced several top‑class goalkeepers, will now face a demanding run of fixtures that includes matches against Tottenham, Manchester United and a Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool. If the tests confirm a concussion, Premier League protocols could require a minimum 14‑day recovery period, putting the club’s upcoming schedule in question.
Chelsea’s defensive performance at Goodison Park was praised by Alonso, who highlighted the team’s solidity and control. The side had been criticised for being “soft” away from home, having lost 19 of 41 matches north of Luton over the past four years. The Blues’ 2‑0 win, however, saw Everton limited to just six shots and a low expected‑goals figure of 0.45. The back three of Josh Acheampong, Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill, combined with the wing‑back play of Neto and Jorrel Hato, provided a solid platform for the defence.
Looking ahead, Chelsea’s next matches will test both the squad’s depth and the readiness of Penders to step into a high‑pressure role. The club will be closely monitoring Martinez’s recovery, while the coaching staff prepares for the possibility of a longer absence. The outcome of the hospital tests will determine whether the Blues can maintain their defensive momentum as they head into the final stretch of the season.