Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that their young Dutch playmaker Xavi Simons has suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, an injury that will require surgery and will rule him out for the remainder of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign as well as the upcoming World Cup. The news was delivered as a major setback for a side fighting to stay above the relegation zone. The incident occurred during Tottenham's 1-0 triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Saturday.
In the 58th minute, Simons collided with Wolves defender Hugo Bueno and immediately clutched his right knee before collapsing to the ground. Though he initially tried to get up and continue, the pain forced him to fall again in front of the Spurs medical team, and he was eventually taken off the pitch on a stretcher. At 23 years old, Simons had been a marquee signing for the club, arriving from Paris Saint‑Germain for a reported fee of around £52 million. His arrival was meant to inject creativity and attacking spark into a side that, after a turbulent summer, finds itself two points adrift of safety with only four matches left.
The injury adds to a growing list of setbacks that have plagued De Zerbi’s squad, including the loss of fellow summer recruit Mohammed Kudus and captain Cristian Romero, both of whom were ruled out for the rest of the season early in the campaign. Tottenham released a statement on Monday confirming the seriousness of Simons' condition. The club said the midfielder will undergo reconstructive surgery in the coming weeks and will then embark on a long rehabilitation process overseen by the club’s medical staff.
Simons himself posted on Instagram on Sunday evening, acknowledging that he would not be fit to feature in Tottenham's final four league fixtures or to represent the Netherlands at the World Cup in the United States. "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," the former PSG star wrote. He went on to express his disappointment, adding, "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 former manager Thomas Frank, he fell out of favour during Igor Tudor’s brief tenure and spent periods on the bench.
However, under the current manager Roberto De Zerbi, Simons began to find his rhythm, most notably scoring a spectacular long‑range effort in a 2-2 home draw with Brighton that highlighted his technical ability and eye for goal. Now, with his injury, Tottenham lose not only a creative engine but also a player who could have provided the decisive moments needed to close the two‑point gap to West Ham United, who sit just above the relegation line. De Zerbi will have to rely on the remaining squad members, many of whom have also struggled with fitness, to secure the points required to avoid what would be the club's first drop to the Championship in nearly half a century.
In the aftermath, former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood spoke to Sky Sports, lamenting the frequency of injuries at the club. "Injuries have derailed Tottenham all season, and it can't be bad luck," he 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.
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 the concern, noting the financial implications of Simons' long‑term absence. "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 reflected on Simons' adaptation to the Premier League, emphasizing the challenges a young foreign player faces. "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'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 were a mix of resignation and determination.
"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.
For Tottenham fans, the news is a bitter pill to swallow. The club now faces a crucial period in which it must rally its remaining talents, manage the psychological blow of losing a key player, and perhaps reassess its medical and conditioning protocols to prevent further setbacks.
The coming weeks will determine whether Spurs can muster enough points to stay in the top flight or whether the injury crisis will culminate in an unwanted relegation, reshaping the club’s future for years to come.