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Tottenham’s James Maddison ruptured his ACL in a pre-season friendly against Newcastle and will have surgery, ruling him out for most of the 2025/26 season.
Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur’s James Maddison (AP)
Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that midfielder James Maddison has suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee and will undergo surgery, ruling him out for the majority of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
The 28-year-old England international sustained the injury during a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United in Seoul, South Korea, on Sunday.
Maddison went down in agony without any contact late in the second half and had to be stretchered off the pitch—an incident that immediately raised fears of a serious setback.
Those fears have now been realised, with Spurs announcing that Maddison faces a long road to recovery.
Club confirms ACL rupture and surgery
“We can confirm that James Maddison will undergo surgery for a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee,” Tottenham said in an official statement.
“The 28-year-old midfielder suffered the injury during our pre-season friendly against Newcastle United on Sunday in Seoul. His surgery will take place in the coming days and, following that, James will then begin his rehabilitation with our medical team.”
This injury is a major blow to new manager Thomas Frank’s preparations for the upcoming season. Maddison, who missed the final stages of the 2024/25 campaign with a separate knee issue, had returned to action this summer and featured prominently in pre-season fixtures before this latest setback.
England’s World Cup hopes in jeopardy
Maddison’s injury also casts serious doubt over his chances of representing England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. With manager Thomas Tuchel preparing to finalise his squad over the next year, a lengthy absence could leave Maddison with little time to prove his fitness and form.
Despite flashes of brilliance in recent years, Maddison has struggled to cement a regular place in the national team setup. A prolonged recovery could further hinder his international aspirations.
Tottenham, fresh off their Europa League triumph last season, now face a critical early test in the UEFA Super Cup against Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in Italy on August 13. They open their Premier League season just three days later, hosting newly promoted Burnley.
(with AFP inputs)
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
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