Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a major blow ahead of the new season, as midfielder James Maddison is set to undergo surgery after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee.
The injury occurred during Spurs’ pre-season clash against Newcastle United in Seoul. Maddison, 28, had only been on the pitch for nine minutes after coming on as a substitute before he went down in visible pain.
He was stretchered off the field with his head in his hands — a worrying sight for both fans and teammates.
This setback affects the same knee that kept the England international out of the final stages of last season, including Tottenham’s Europa League final victory.
Tottenham Confirms Maddison’s Surgery
Shortly after the match, Spurs released an official statement:
“We can confirm that James Maddison will undergo surgery for a ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his right knee. 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, followed by a rehabilitation period with our medical team. Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur wishes James a full and speedy recovery.”
New head coach Thomas Frank described the injury as “brutal” — a sentiment echoed by fans across social media who had hoped to see Maddison back at full strength for the new campaign.
What This Means for Spurs’ Summer Plans
This injury complicates Spurs’ transfer strategy, especially as the club was already in the market for an attacking midfielder.
Maddison’s absence puts additional pressure on the squad, with Dejan Kulusevski also sidelined after undergoing knee surgery in May, and Heung-Min Son’s role needing rebalancing.
Tottenham had made a strong push to sign Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest, even triggering his £60 million release clause.
However, Forest successfully blocked the move, ultimately convincing the player to sign a new deal.
With limited options in attacking midfield, Tottenham may now look to Pape Matar Sarr, who has impressed in a more advanced role during pre-season.
Additionally, newly signed Mohammed Kudus (£55m) could offer some relief in central areas.
