Emiliano Martinez Concussion: Chelsea Goalkeeper Taken to Hospital for Precautionary Tests After Everton Win

Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez taken to hospital for precautionary tests after concussion in Everton win

Emiliano Martinez was taken to hospital for precautionary tests after suffering a concussion during Chelsea's 2-0 Premier League win at Everton on Saturday, manager Xabi Alonso confirmed. The goalkeeper collided with Jarrad Branthwaite in the 68th minute and was replaced by Mike Penders after an eight-minute stoppage.

Match: Everton 0-2 Chelsea (Pedro Neto scored both goals)
Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium
Incident: Martinez collided with Jarrad Branthwaite in the 68th minute while claiming a cross from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's free-kick
Outcome: Eight-minute stoppage; Martinez replaced by Mike Penders, who made his Premier League debut
Status: Martinez left the stadium conscious and is undergoing precautionary tests in hospital
At stake: Doubts over Martinez for Chelsea's next three matches — Tottenham and Manchester United in the Premier League, with a Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool in between

What was said

"It was a concussion, but beyond that I do not know. I have only seen one clip of the incident, so we need to wait."
— Xabi Alonso, Chelsea manager, on the nature of Martinez's injury

"What we know is that he left the stadium conscious and is now in hospital undergoing precautionary tests."
— Xabi Alonso, providing an update on Martinez's condition

"We need to wait. Hopefully it will not be too serious, but at the moment we just have to wait."
— Xabi Alonso, on the uncertainty surrounding the goalkeeper's recovery

"We needed to show that we can win in this way. We looked solid, we played solidly, we were strong and we stayed in control."
— Xabi Alonso, on Chelsea's defensive performance at Everton

"In the first half there were difficult periods with throw-ins, corners and pressure from Everton. You have to overcome those moments."
— Xabi Alonso, on the challenges his side faced

"In the Premier League it is very hard to have complete control in an away game, but you cannot lose your shape or your conviction."
— Xabi Alonso, on maintaining discipline away from home

Alonso's comments reveal a manager who is cautiously optimistic but unwilling to speculate. The phrase "precautionary tests" is standard medical language, yet the fact Martinez was taken to hospital at all suggests the club are treating the head injury with the utmost seriousness. The eight-minute stoppage and immediate substitution underline that concussion protocols were followed to the letter.

Alonso's praise for his side's resilience is telling. Chelsea had been criticised for being "soft" away from home, particularly in the north of England, and the manager clearly felt this performance answered those questions. The clean sheet was the first in nine months, and the manner of victory — combative, controlled, organised — will have pleased him as much as the three points.

Injury and availability

Emiliano Martinez: Concussion suffered in the 68th minute against Everton. Taken to hospital for precautionary tests. Left the stadium conscious. Doubtful for the next three matches — Tottenham (Premier League), Liverpool (Carabao Cup), Manchester United (Premier League).
Mike Penders: Replaced Martinez and made his Premier League debut. Available and likely to start if Martinez is ruled out.

The numbers

0-2: Final score at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Pedro Neto scoring both Chelsea goals.
68th minute: The time of Martinez's collision with Jarrad Branthwaite.
8 minutes: The length of the stoppage before Martinez was replaced.
9 months / 23 matches: Chelsea's wait for a Premier League clean sheet, stretching back to a 2-0 win against Brentford in January.
13 goals: The league-high number Chelsea had conceded before kick-off.
6 shots: Everton's total, their fewest in a Premier League game since recording five against Arsenal last December.
0.45: Chelsea's expected goals against (xG) figure — their lowest against top-flight opposition this season.
19 of 41: Chelsea's away defeats north of Luton over the past four years before this match.
£117m: The club-record fee for Morgan Rogers, who set the tone with a combative display.
21 years: Mike Penders' age, making him Chelsea's youngest Premier League goalkeeper.
£17m: The fee Chelsea paid Genk for Penders in 2024.
6ft 7in: Penders' height, the same as Thibaut Courtois.
14 days: The minimum return-to-play process under Premier League concussion protocols.

Why Xabi Alonso's Chelsea finally look like a proper team

For all the focus on Martinez's injury, the bigger story may be Chelsea's defensive transformation. Xabi Alonso switched to a back three of Josh Acheampong, Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill, with Pedro Neto and Jorrel Hato operating as wing-backs. The midfield pairing of Moises Caicedo and new signing Jordan Henderson brought solidity and experience that had been missing. It was Morgan Rogers, the £117m club-record signing, who set the tone by squaring up to James Tarkowski in an eventful first half. This was a Chelsea side willing to fight, and Everton managed just six shots all game. The clean sheet was no accident.

The use of Hato as a wing-back was particularly smart. The young defender provided the assist for one of Neto's goals, and his energy allowed Chelsea to defend wide areas without sacrificing attacking width. Caicedo, returning from international duty, screened the back three effectively, while Henderson's experience helped manage the game in the second half. Alonso's claim that his side "stayed in control" is backed up by the numbers — Everton created only one clear-cut opportunity and recorded an xG of 0.45, Chelsea's lowest against top-flight opposition this season.

The concern now is whether Chelsea can maintain this level without their first-choice goalkeeper. Mike Penders, at 21, is inexperienced but highly rated. Signed from Genk for £17m in 2024 before loans back to Genk and then Strasbourg, he is compared to Thibaut Courtois by those who know him best. He stands at 6ft 7in, has worked with legendary youth goalkeeping coaches Guy Martens and Gilbert Roex, and recently served as Courtois's understudy in the Belgium national team. Gilbert Roex said: "We have produced a lot of great goalkeepers, but Mike is the one with the potential to reach the same level as Thibaut. His sense of calm is gold in goalkeeping." If Martinez is ruled out for the next three matches, Penders will need to show that calm immediately.

Talking points

Should Chelsea have been more cautious with Martinez after he collided with Branthwaite? The eight-minute stoppage suggests they followed protocols, but the goalkeeper's health must come first.
Is Mike Penders ready for Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United? At 21, he has huge potential but little Premier League experience — throwing him into these fixtures is a risk.
Has Xabi Alonso solved Chelsea's soft underbelly? The back-three system worked at Everton, but one clean sheet does not erase nine months of defensive frailties.
Morgan Rogers' confrontation with James Tarkowski was exactly what Chelsea have lacked — but will he cross the line into indiscipline?

What happens next

Chelsea face Tottenham in the Premier League next, followed by a Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool and then Manchester United. Martinez's test results will determine whether Penders steps in for all three. Alonso will also hope to build on the defensive improvements shown at Everton, but the goalkeeper situation adds significant uncertainty to a crucial run of fixtures.

Frequently asked questions

Is Emiliano Martinez playing for Chelsea against Tottenham?

Martinez is doubtful after suffering a concussion against Everton and being taken to hospital for precautionary tests. Premier League protocols typically require a minimum 14-day return-to-play process, so he is unlikely to feature.

Who is Chelsea's backup goalkeeper?

Mike Penders, who replaced Martinez at Everton and made his Premier League debut. He is 21 years old and became Chelsea's youngest goalkeeper in the Premier League.