Tottenham Hotspur have announced that Dutch attacking midfielder Xavi Simons has suffered a complete rupture of his anterior cruciate ligament and will require surgery, effectively ruling him out for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign and the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The 23‑year‑old, who joined the club for a reported £52 million, was forced to leave the field after a clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Hugo Bueno in the 58th minute of Spurs' 1‑0 victory at Molineux – the first Premier League win of the season for the North London side. Simons fell to the turf clutching his right knee, attempted to get to his feet, but collapsed again in front of the Tottenham medical team and was subsequently taken off on a stretcher.
The injury comes at a critical juncture for a Spurs side fighting for survival. With four matches left, the club sits two points adrift of safety and faces the prospect of its first relegation in 49 years. Simons' absence adds to a growing list of long‑term injuries that have plagued De Zerbi’s squad since he took over.
Earlier in the season, summer signing Mohammed Kudus and captain Cristian Romero were both ruled out for the rest of the campaign, and now the loss of Simons – a player expected to be a creative catalyst – deepens the crisis. Tottenham released a statement on Monday confirming the seriousness of the injury and confirming that Simons will undergo an operation in the coming weeks before beginning a structured rehabilitation program under the club’s medical staff.
The club also noted that the midfielder had posted on Instagram on Sunday evening, acknowledging that he would not be fit to feature in the final four league fixtures or represent the Netherlands 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, his tone reflecting the disappointment that has been echoed by teammates and fans alike. "Honestly, I'm heartbroken.
None of it makes sense. All I've wanted to do is fight for my team and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me, along with the World Cup." Simons' first season in England has been a roller‑coaster.
After a promising start under interim manager Thomas Frank, he found himself on the periphery during Igor Tudor’s brief tenure, only to be reintegrated by Roberto De Zerbi, who seemed to have identified the young midfielder as a key piece in his attacking blueprint. Simons delivered a moment of brilliance with a spectacular strike in a 2‑2 home draw against Brighton, hinting at the creative spark he could provide in the run‑in. That goal, described by commentators as "absolutely stunning," will now be remembered as one of the few highlights in an otherwise turbulent debut campaign.
With Simons sidelined, Tottenham must look to other players to fill the creative void. The club still boasts talent such as Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and the newly arrived Mohammed Kudus, but all three have also battled injuries this season.
Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood, speaking to Sky Sports, warned that the frequency of soft‑tissue and non‑contact injuries suggests deeper issues within the club’s training or medical protocols. "Injuries have derailed Tottenham all season, and it can't be bad luck," Sherwood said.
"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." Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge echoed these concerns, noting the financial implications of carrying high‑earning players who are unable to contribute on the pitch. "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," Bridge said.
"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 the difficulty of adapting to the Premier League for a young talent like Simons. "We forget how young he is and how difficult it is to move to the Premier League. So it's been a bit of an up and down first season for him," he observed.
"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." The midfielder's own words after the injury reflected a resolve to support his teammates despite being unable to play. "It'll take some time to find peace with this but I'll continue to be the best teammate 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," Simons said in a follow‑up statement. Looking ahead, Tottenham's immediate challenge is to secure enough points in the remaining fixtures to stay up. The loss of Simons' creativity means that other players will need to step up, and the manager may have to adjust his tactical approach, perhaps relying more on wing play or a deeper defensive block to grind out results. The club's medical department will also be under scrutiny as they work to prevent further setbacks and manage the rehabilitation of multiple high‑profile players.
In the broader context, Simons' injury serves as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in professional sport. A promising talent, a multimillion‑pound investment, and a national team hopeful can see a season end in an instant due to a single moment of contact.
For Tottenham fans, the hope now lies in the resilience of the squad, the strategic adjustments of Roberto De Zerbi, and the belief that the club can navigate the final stretch without succumbing to the threat of relegation.