Chelsea have confirmed the news that forward Lucy Watson has undergone surgery on an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury.
The Blues provided the injury update via a post on the club’s official website this afternoon.
The 18-year-old only joined Chelsea back in July. Watson moved to Kingsmeadow on a free transfer after leaving former club Sheffield United during the summer. The forward has committed her future to Chelsea for the next two years.
To aid Watson’s development, Chelsea sent the player to London rivals Charlton Athletic on a loan arrangement for the 2022/2023 season. The youngster has sustained her injury during her spell with the Barclays Women’s Championship club. Watson was an unused substitute at Southampton on opening day while she was absent from The Addicks squad for the home fixture against London City Lionesses.
With Watson having sustained what is potentially a season-ending injury, it has been reported that the player has returned to Chelsea where she will continue her rehabilitation. She will remain under the watchful eyes of The Blues’ medical team.
Watson’s loan club Charlton Athletic will continue the new Barclays Women’s Championship season without the player’s services when they take on promotion rivals Birmingham City at The Valley on Sunday afternoon.