Maddison forced off injured again as Tottenham's fitness nightmare deepens at Chelsea

James Maddison suffered yet another injury blow during Tottenham’s London derby against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, going down early in the second half and walking off visibly dejected to be replaced by Conor Gallagher.

The setback is a cruel one for the 29-year-old midfielder, who had only just returned to the starting lineup after missing eight months with an ACL tear. Last week’s appearance against Coventry — in which he scored in a 3-1 win, Spurs’ first victory of the season — was his first start since May 2025.

Maddison crouched and looked towards the bench before going to ground, with team-mates quickly waving on the medical staff. He was able to walk off under his own power, though his demeanour suggested the injury was significant. Gallagher, a former Chelsea player, was booed by the home support as he entered the pitch as Maddison’s replacement.

The incident adds to a deeply troubled spell at Spurs for Maddison since his move to north London. He missed 24 games in his debut campaign due to a series of fitness problems, then suffered the serious knee injury that wiped out the majority of last season. Earlier this campaign he was also forced off on the opening day against Brentford with a shoulder issue, though that particular scare proved less serious than feared.

Head coach Roberto De Zerbi now faces an anxious wait to learn the full extent of the latest damage, with Tottenham’s injury list already a significant concern in what has been a difficult start to the season.