SOCCER:CHELSEA WILL be without Michael Essien for the majority of the forthcoming season after the Ghana midfielder had surgery to repair a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus, an injury that will rule him out until well into the new year.

Essien twisted as he landed awkwardly last Thursday – the first day of double sessions since the first-team squad returned to Cobham to begin preparations under Andre Villas-Boas – and, once the swelling on his right knee had receded slightly, underwent a series of scans. Those confirmed Chelsea’s worst fears, with the injury a repeat of that suffered three years ago, and necessitated the 28-year-old having surgery yesterday.

That operation was described as “successful” by the club, though the midfielder will not be able to return to training for at least six months and, given his history of knee injuries, there is a sense his recovery could drag well into next spring.

Meanwhile, former England defender Jonathan Woodgate joined Stoke City on a free transfer yesterday after being released by Tottenham Hotspur.

The 31-year-old former Leeds and Real Madrid player, whose career has been afflicted by injury, has signed a one-year deal with last term’s FA Cup runners-up but has the option of a second season should he prove his fitness.

Roger Johnson last night revealed his transfer from Birmingham to Wolves is “halfway there” after undergoing a medical.

The Black Country side are closing in on the signing of the defender after agreeing a fee approaching €8 million.

Johnson held talks with Wolves officials at Molineux yesterday morning and then had a medical.

West Brom are interested in signing Manchester United discard Owen Hargreaves in a possible pay as you play deal.

And Arsenal recruited Lille’s 24-year-old Ivory Coast forward Gervinho yesterday as they bid to boost their firepower this season and end a trophy drought stretching back to 2005. “He is an official Arsenal player,” said Wenger yesterday.