Manchester City have confirmed that defender Josko Gvardiol has suffered a broken leg following Sunday’s 1–1 Premier League draw with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.
The club announced on Monday that the Croatia international sustained a tibial fracture to his right leg and will undergo surgery later this week. City added that further assessment is ongoing to determine the full extent of the injury and his expected recovery timeline.
Gvardiol was forced off during the second half alongside fellow centre-back Ruben Dias, compounding City’s defensive woes. Dias’ injury has not yet been fully disclosed. Shortly after the double setback at the back, Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez struck a stoppage-time equaliser to deny City all three points.
The result leaves second-placed City six points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal.
City manager Pep Guardiola had earlier admitted the outlook was bleak, saying it “doesn’t look good” for either defender. Gvardiol’s absence further stretches an already depleted defence, with John Stones sidelined for a month due to a thigh injury and Rayan Ait-Nouri currently away on international duty with Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.
In addition to their defensive problems, City were also without midfielder Nico Gonzalez against Chelsea, while Savinho, Oscar Bobb, Mateo Kovacic and Omar Marmoush are all unavailable ahead of Wednesday’s home clash with Brighton.
There was, however, a rare positive for Guardiola’s side as Rodri completed a full 90 minutes, marking his first start since October. The Spanish midfielder has endured a difficult spell recovering from a serious knee injury and a recent hamstring setback.
“It’s been a terrible, terrible time for me,” Rodri said after the match. “Everything that comes right now is a gift. Every minute on the pitch is a joy.”
City will now hope Rodri’s return can provide some stability as they navigate a challenging period marked by injuries and mounting pressure in the title race.
