What We Know (Facts Only)

Chelsea have officially confirmed that Dário Essugo, 20-year-old Portuguese midfielder, has undergone successful surgery on his thigh (hamstring) injury.

The injury was sustained while Essugo was on duty with Portugal Under-21. It stemmed from a thigh/hamstring problem picked up during international training.

Chelsea’s medical staff will manage his recovery at Cobham, their training and medical facility.

What Is Not Yet Confirmed (Areas of Uncertainty)

There is no official, confirmed return date announced by Chelsea. The club has not said exactly when Essugo will be fit again.

While some media reports suggest he might be ruled out into 2026 (i.e., not available before January) and that his layoff could be a “minimum of 12 weeks”, those are projections / estimates, not confirmed by the club.

Implications & Context

 

Essugo was signed from Sporting CP in the summer of 2025 and has not yet made his Premier League debut under Enzo Maresca. He was viewed as backup for Moisés Caicedo, and part of the midfield rotation.

This injury adds strain on Chelsea’s midfield depth, especially with other injuries already affecting the squad.

Essugo has posted messages on social media acknowledging the injury, surgery, and expressed determination to recover stronger.

Bottom Line

Essugo is confirmed to have had surgery on a thigh/hamstring injury sustained with Portugal U21. He’ll miss a significant amount of time, but until Chelsea or their medical team states an exact return date, any “ruled out until 2026” claims remain estimates. His long absence will almost certainly impact Chelsea’s rotation plans this season.