Dejan Kulusevski Injury Update
The Swedish wizard remains sidelined, and honestly, it's starting to feel like a proper nightmare for Tottenham fans who've been counting down the days until their creative spark returns. Kulusevski's knee injury from May continues to keep him out for what new coach Thomas Frank describes as "a long time", which is about as vague as it is worrying when you're desperate for good news. The Spurs Express (@TheSpursExpress) shared on Twitter that Dejan Kulusevski is expected to be sidelined until the turn of the year. This update comes as a major setback for Tottenham, with the winger’s absence likely to impact the team’s attacking options.
What started as what manager Ange Postecoglou initially thought was just a knock has evolved into something far more serious, and the timeline keeps getting pushed back in ways that make you wonder if the football gods have it in for Spurs.
The injury itself happened during that frustrating 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace back in May – you know, one of those games where everything that could go wrong, did. Kulusevski suffered an injury to his right patella (kneecap) after what appeared to be knee-to-knee contact with Marc Guehi, and was substituted after just 19 minutes.
At first, Postecoglou was optimistic, saying the medical team wasn't too concerned and that it looked more like a knock than anything serious. But as anyone who's ever tweaked something knows, sometimes these things have a nasty habit of getting worse before they get better. The injury "blew up" a day later, and Kulusevski underwent surgery on his patella, which Postecoglou admitted would keep him out "at least for a few months".
The timing couldn't have been worse – this happened right before Tottenham's Europa League final against Manchester United, a match that Spurs went on to win but without one of their most creative players. Kulusevski had scored 10 goals and provided 11 assists in 50 appearances across all competitions that season, making him one of their most reliable attacking threats. The man had been on an incredible run too – he hadn't missed a Tottenham match in well over a year, playing 60 consecutive games before this injury.
That's the kind of consistency you build a team around, which makes his absence all the more frustrating. Recent updates paint a picture that's equal parts encouraging and concerning, depending on how you squint at it. In late July, Kulusevski posted a social media update showing himself with a football, captioned "first time since May", which had fans buzzing with hope. There's something beautifully simple about that milestone – just touching a ball again after months of rehabilitation.
But before we get too carried away, reports suggest he's set to miss at least the first month of the new season, with a potential return timeline pushed to September. That's assuming everything goes perfectly from here, which given Tottenham's luck with injuries, feels like asking for a minor miracle.
What's particularly maddening for Spurs supporters is how this injury has coincided with other creative players going down like dominoes. James Maddison recently suffered an ACL tear in a pre-season friendly against Newcastle, requiring surgery and keeping him out until potentially April 2026.
Lucas Bergvall is also dealing with his own injury concerns. It's like watching your favorite restaurant run out of all the good dishes at once – you're left staring at a very limited menu wondering how everything went sideways so quickly.
The uncertainty around Kulusevski's return is perhaps the most challenging aspect for both the player and fans. While initially expected to return after a few months, some injury experts are now suggesting his absence could extend to 10 months, with the possibility he might not return before November or December.
Tottenham Tiers (@TottenhamTiers) reported on Twitter, that Dejan Kulusevski is expected to remain out of action until the turn of the year, dealing another blow to Spurs’ attacking depth.
Patella injuries can be tricky beasts – they're not just about the bone healing, but also about regaining the confidence to trust that knee in full competition. There's the physical recovery, sure, but there's also that mental hurdle of knowing you can cut, jump, and sprint without everything falling apart again.
For Thomas Frank, who's taken over from Postecoglou, this injury situation represents both a challenge and an opportunity to see what the squad is really made of. With Kulusevski out, newcomers Mohammed Kudus and Pape Sarr are expected to see increased playing time in attacking midfield roles. It's not ideal to be throwing players into the deep end because of injuries, but sometimes these situations reveal hidden gems or push players to levels they didn't know they had.
The Swedish international's rehabilitation continues behind the scenes, with Tottenham's medical staff working methodically through what's clearly a complex recovery process. There's no rushing back from a patella surgery – ask any physio and they'll tell you horror stories about players who tried to come back too early and ended up worse off. The fact that Kulusevski is now able to kick a ball again is genuinely encouraging, even if it highlights just how long this journey has been.
From being one of Tottenham's most consistent performers to relearning basic football movements, it's a humbling reminder of how quickly things can change in football. Looking ahead, Tottenham fans will be hoping that when Kulusevski does return, he can recapture the form that made him such a crucial part of their attacking setup.
His ability to drift between positions, create chances out of nothing, and provide that Swedish flair that makes defenders nervous – all of that will hopefully still be there when he's ready. But for now, it's a waiting game that tests everyone's patience, from the medical staff monitoring his progress to the supporters who light up every time there's even a hint of positive news about their creative catalyst.
