Chelsea: Wesley Fofana looks back on his descent into hell

Since his signing with great fanfare on August 31, 2022, Wesley Fofana, who cost nearly 90 million euros with bonus, has experienced many complicated moments at Chelsea. First the victim of a serious sprain in his right knee during the 2022/2023 season, the French defender was able to return to competition only five months later, missing a total of 20 matches. Returning to the pitch on February 18, 2023, during a 1-0 home defeat against Southampton, Fofana had to endure further disillusionment when Chelsea revealed on July 18, 2023 that the former defensive rock of Leceister was suffering from a ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament and therefore had to undergo surgery. A second serious injury in the space of a few months which forces him to remain on the sidelines for the entire 2023/2024 season in order to concentrate on his rehabilitation. In two and a half years in the Blues jersey, Wesley Fofana has only played 23 championship matches, including eight this season.

Now officially back in competition, Wesley Fofana has established himself as a leader of the Chelsea defense. In his eight appearances in the Premier League since the start of the 2024/2025 financial year, the Marseille native has started eight times. He only missed the clash against Liverpool, when he was suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards. He also played all of the league matches except against West Ham when Enzo Maresca made the decision to replace him in the 57th minute: “ We have a new coach who arrives with a new playing philosophy completely different from what we had experienced before. We have goals, which is to win something this year, to finish in the Top 3 of the Premier League. I think we have the ability to do it », explained Wesley Fofana on the microphone of Telefoot on TF1. But above all, the latter is happy to be back on the lawns.

A real relief to be back

While he had been stopped in full progress, Wesley Fofana is now back on the pitch, ready to regain his status at club, but also in the selection since the competition promises to be tough: “ I’m very hungry, very very hungry. I’m sick. I spent a lot of time off the field, that’s what I like about playing football. These injuries hurt me a lot. To be back is a huge joy. They taught me that life is already hard. This allowed me to realize that I had strength of character and that despite all the hard knocks, you have to get back up in life. Always smiling despite the hard knocks, we must move forward », specified Fofana. Premier League attackers are warned, the French rock will not let anything go this season.

With a long-term contract, he wants to include his name in the Blues project despite multiple calls from Olympique de Marseille, his favorite club: “ I have a contract until 2029. I see myself at Chelsea until 2029. Without lying, it’s a club where I feel very good. One match a week, I’m good for the moment. We got a call from Mr. Benatia, it went boom boom in my heart. I was coming back from injuries, I didn’t know if I was going to be part of the project directly from the club. I had a discussion with the coach and he told me that he was counting on me this season. So I said I was very happy, I was 100% with Chelsea “, he concluded. After the words, it’s time for actions and it starts this Sunday with the golden poster between Chelsea and Manchester United.