Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison is facing an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The 28-year-old is expected to undergo surgery in the coming days, ruling him out for the majority of the upcoming season.
Maddison sustained the injury during the Spurs’ recent pre-season friendly against Newcastle United in South Korea. It was confirmed by manager Thomas Frank that the midfielder had damaged the same knee that kept him out of Tottenham’s Europa League final triumph over Manchester United in May.
Following the team’s return from Asia, Maddison underwent a series of medical tests to determine the extent of the damage. Initial fears of a serious ligament injury were confirmed this week, dealing a significant blow to Tottenham’s preparations ahead of the new campaign.
Maddison joined Spurs in a £40m move from Leicester City in 2023 and made an immediate impact, scoring 12 goals in 45 appearances last season. He has also represented England seven times, with his last international cap coming in 2024.
The injury not only sidelines a key creative force for Tottenham but also presents a challenge for new head coach Thomas Frank. Having already seen star forward Son Heung-min depart for LAFC, Frank must now contend with the loss of another pivotal attacking player just weeks before the start of the Premier League season.
Tottenham may be forced to return to the transfer market in search of a replacement. The club had previously expressed interest in Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, and while that move did not materialise, the need for a new attacking midfielder has now become urgent.
Mohammed Kudus, signed from West Ham earlier this summer, could be an option in a central role, although Spurs may look to bring in further reinforcements to compensate for Maddison’s absence.
With two of their main attacking threats now unavailable, Tottenham’s early-season ambitions face an unexpected test.
