Enzo Maresca confirms injury blow as Cole Palmer ruled out of Barcelona and Arsenal fixtures

November 21 , 2025 - Chelsea forward Cole Palmer is set to miss the club’s next three fixtures after fracturing a toe in a domestic accident. The England international injured his left foot when he accidentally struck it against a door, ruling him out of upcoming matches against Burnley, Barcelona, and Arsenal.

Palmer had been nearing a return from a groin problem that had kept him out of action since September, having already resumed light training at Cobham earlier in the week. The new setback delays his comeback further, as confirmed by Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca.

“Unfortunately, Cole had a minor accident at home where he hurt his toe,” Maresca explained. “It’s not a major issue, but he won’t feature this week or the next.” When asked about how long the forward might remain sidelined, the manager added: “We’re not entirely sure. The toe is fractured, and we’ll need a bit of time to assess how quickly it heals.”

Maresca also described the scene when he last saw Palmer: “He was walking fairly well, just barefoot and not limping too badly. The challenge is that it’s the little toe, and wearing a football boot puts pressure on it, which can be uncomfortable.”