Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that Dutch attacking midfielder Xavi Simons has suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, an injury that will require surgery and will rule him out for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign as well as the upcoming World Cup. The news represents a severe setback for a club already battling to stay above the relegation line.
The incident occurred during Tottenham's 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Saturday. In the 58th minute, Simons collided with Wolves defender Hugo Bueno, fell to the ground clutching his right knee, and after a brief attempt to continue he collapsed again in front of the Spurs medical team.
The 23‑year‑old was subsequently taken off the pitch on a stretcher. Following the match, the club released a statement confirming the seriousness of the injury.
Simons will undergo reconstructive surgery in the coming weeks and will then begin a structured rehabilitation program overseen by Tottenham's medical staff. In a personal Instagram post on Sunday evening, the former Paris Saint‑Germain talent explained that he would not be available for the final four league fixtures nor for the Dutch national team at the summer World Cup. "They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way.
My season has come to an abrupt end and I'm just trying to process it," Simons wrote, adding that he felt "heartbroken" and that his ambition to help his club and country had been taken away. The timing could not be worse for a Tottenham side that sits just two points adrift of safety with only four games remaining. The Spurs have already been hit by a series of high‑profile injuries this season, including the loss of summer signing Mohammed Kudus and captain Cristian Romero, both of whom were ruled out for the rest of the campaign early in De Zerbi's tenure.
Simons' £52 million acquisition now joins a growing injury list that has left the club scrambling for options. Simons' debut season in England has been a roller‑coaster.
After an initial period of promise under former manager Thomas Frank, he found himself on the periphery during Igor Tudor's brief spell, only to be recalled by Roberto De Zerbi, who appeared to be building the youngster into a key creative outlet. The highlight of his short tenure came with a spectacular long‑range strike in a 2‑2 home draw against Brighton, a goal that showcased the flair and technical ability that Tottenham hoped would lift the team’s attacking play.
Now, with his season cut short, Simons will miss the crucial run‑in where Spurs must claw back the two‑point gap to 17th‑placed West Ham United to avoid what would be the club’s first relegation in 49 years. In his own words, Simons promised to remain a supportive teammate: "It'll take some time to find peace with this but I'll continue to be the best team‑mate I can be. I have no doubt that together we'll win this fight. I'll walk this path now, guided by faith, with strength, with resilience, with belief as I count down the days to getting back out there.
Be patient with me." Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood weighed in on Sky Sports, lamenting the sheer volume of injuries that have plagued the club: "Injuries have derailed Tottenham all season, and it can't be bad luck. They need to review and have a good look at what's happening to their players because we can all get injured from contact, but a lot of these injuries are not contact. They are twists and soft‑tissue injuries. And ultimately, it looks like they might have to pay the price for it, the ultimate price, which is relegation." Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge echoed those concerns, noting the financial implications of losing a player on a £52 million contract to a long‑term injury: "If Tottenham do get relegated, they could still have James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Xavi Simons, three very big names, still at the club in the Championship.
That's a ruptured ACL for Simons; you can forget this year. That's done. So with his wages and everything, you've got to look at the financial side of it as well. I'm sorry to say, but Spurs' persistent injury issues need to be looked at.
This is ridiculous now." Bridge also highlighted Simons' development under De Zerbi, pointing out that the young Dutchman had begun to hit his stride in recent weeks: "He's been in the side, out of the side, he showed more glimpses when he was playing in the Champions League for Spurs this season. But, over the last few weeks, under Roberto De Zerbi, he's really coming into his own. He scored that absolutely stunning goal against Brighton. It really was a brilliant goal out of nothing.
And this is what Spurs are going to miss over the next few games, just that individual bit of brilliance which he's capable of." The injury list, which now includes Simons, Kudus, Romero, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, has left fans and pundits questioning the club's training and medical protocols. Some analysts suggest that the intensity of the Premier League schedule, combined with a possible lack of adequate recovery time, may be contributing factors.
Others point to the need for a comprehensive review of conditioning programmes to reduce the risk of non‑contact injuries such as ACL tears. In the broader context, Simons' absence also weakens the Netherlands' squad for the 2026 World Cup. The Dutch side had counted on his creativity and goal‑scoring ability to complement stars like Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo. The Dutch Football Association will now have to look for alternatives, perhaps promoting a younger talent or adjusting their tactical setup.
For Tottenham, the immediate challenge is to find a way to compensate for the loss of Simons' creativity. Manager Roberto De Zerbi will likely lean more heavily on players like James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and the emerging talent of Harry Winks or Ryan Sessegnon to provide the attacking spark that Simons offered. The club may also explore the emergency loan market, though the transfer window is closed, limiting options to free agents or internal promotions. In summary, Xavi Simons' ACL rupture not only ends his inaugural Premier League season but also removes a key piece of Tottenham's fight for survival and the Netherlands' World Cup ambitions.
The injury underscores a season marred by misfortune for Spurs, prompting calls for a thorough review of player welfare and conditioning as the club looks ahead to a summer of rebuilding, whether in the top flight or the Championship.