Josko Gvardiol Injury Update
Josko Gvardiol suffered a painful right leg injury during Manchester City's 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday, January 4, 2026, and it doesn't look promising. The 23-year-old Croatian defender limped off in the 52nd minute after an awkward lunge chasing a ball alongside Chelsea's Malo Gusto.
City Xtra (@City_Xtra) dropped a bombshell on X that Pep Guardiola confirmed Josko Gvardiol's injury "doesn't look good" after the Chelsea draw, while Ruben Dias also picked up a second-half knock—turning City's defensive injury crisis into full meltdown mode just when they needed stability most.
Pep Guardiola called it worrying right after the match, saying it "doesn't look good" and hinting at weeks on the sidelines. Scans and updates were expected Monday, January 5, but as of 10:00 AM IST today, no fresh club statement has dropped frustrating for fans tracking every defender in this stretched title race.
City's bench looked thin already, with academy kids filling spots, and now this piles on. Gvardiol was covering center-back due to other absences, which makes the timing brutal. Imagine lunging like that, ankle twisting under pressure ouch, the kind of moment that echoes those slow-mo replays you replay in your head.
What Happened to Josko Gvardiol?
Gvardiol went down early in the second half, around the 51st minute, signaling straight to the bench after his right ankle buckled strangely mid-stride. Trainers and even Chelsea's Reece James helped him hobble off, straight down the tunnel no hanging around. He got subbed by Abdukhodir Khusanov, and not long after, Ruben Dias limped off too, turning City's defense into a makeshift scramble.
Guardiola confirmed post-match around 21:00 GMT: "Apparently it doesn’t look good. We will see tomorrow." That Chelsea game was tense City up 1-0 via Tijjani Reijnders, then Enzo Fernández equalizes late. Losing your rock at center-back mid-fight? Nightmare fuel, especially with Rodri just back but others like John Stones out long-term.
mancity.fever2 shared on Instagram that Josko Gvardiol's injury "doesn't look good," according to Pep Guardiola, who also confirmed Ruben Dias picked up a second-half knock versus Chelsea deepening Manchester City's defensive woes at the worst possible time.
Gvardiol missed the season's first three games but has been a fixture otherwise. Last season he played 37 times despite a prior ankle tear sidelining him a month tough kid, but legs don't lie.
When Will Josko Gvardiol Return?
No exact timeline yet , after medical checks, but he floated "a few weeks" out for Gvardiol and Dias. City faces Brighton at home Wednesday, January 7, then Manchester United Saturday tight turnaround with seven games this month. If it's an ankle strain or worse (lower leg, maybe?), count on mid-February at earliest, overlapping key fixtures.
Guardiola sounded braced: "Of course I have concerns… We don’t have players." Nathan Aké's fitness is iffy too, and Rodri's return is a question mark. Brutal cluster last season they scrapped through worse, spirit pulling them over the line. Fingers crossed it's not the full month like before.
Josko Gvardiol Stats
Gvardiol's a beast, one of the planet's top center-backs despite preferring left-back. Quick table of his recent form:
| Season | Appearances | Clean Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 37 | 15 |
| 2025-26 | ~17 | 8 |
Croatia international with 46 caps, key in their World Cup runs. Any long absence hits City's title push hard they're now six points off Arsenal after 20 games. He's versatile, composed, and that absence? Could shift the whole race. Stay tuned for official word today.
Disclaimer: The information shared here is based on match observations, post-game comments, and publicly available updates at the time of writing. Injury details, recovery timelines, and player availability may change following medical scans, club statements, or further evaluations. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, refer to official Manchester City announcements and Premier League injury reports.
