Chelsea Women right-back Jorja Fox, on loan at Crystal Palace, is set for an extended period on the sidelines after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
The 21-year-old, who recently signed a new deal at the west London club through to 2027, will undergo a period of rehabilitation at Chelsea, having also suffered an ACL injury in May 2023.
This is the second ACL injury in the space of a week for Chelsea following midfielder Sophie Ingle sustaining the injury, with strikers Sam Kerr and Mia Fishel both also out with a similar issue. In December 2023, Chelsea defender Aniek Nouwen also suffered the same injury.
Only the injuries sustained by Kerr and Ingle actually occurred at Chelsea, with Fox’s injuries happening during spells at Brighton & Hove Albion and Palace respectively, while Fishel was on international duty with the USWNT and Nouwen was with the Netherlands Under-23 squad.
Fox has made five first-team appearances for Chelsea, having previously had loan spells at Charlton Athletic and Brighton.
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What is an ACL injury?
An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a tear or sprain of the ACL, one of the strong bands of tissue that connect the thigh bone (femur) to shinbone (tibia) at the knee joint.
The ACL runs diagonally through the inside of the knee to give the joint stability. The ACL also adds stability nd control for vertical movement of the lower leg.
Knee injuries can occur during sports such as skiing, tennis, squash, football and rugby. ACL injuries are one of the most common types of knee injuries.
ACL tears occur when the lower leg extends forward too much, while the muscle can also be torn if the knee and lower leg are twisted.
These injuries are common across sports, including football, and can be a result of an incorrect landing from a jump, a sudden stop or change of direction, or an overextension following a collision.
Surgery is often required following these injuries, which can result in lengthy delays lasting multiple months.
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(Harriet Lander – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
