Javi Simons will miss the remainder of the season and the upcoming World Cup after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee. The injury was sustained during Tottenham Hotspur’s 1–0 Premier League victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
The incident occurred in the second half when the 23-year-old Dutch attacking midfielder collided with Wolves defender Hugo Bueno. Simons initially attempted to continue but soon collapsed again and required treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off. Subsequent medical examinations confirmed a tear of the ACL in his right knee.
Tottenham Hotspur have stated that Simons will undergo surgery within the next few weeks, followed by a rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the club’s medical staff. ACL injuries typically require a recovery period of between six and nine months, depending on the severity and rehabilitation progress.
Simons addressed the injury on social media, writing: “People say life can be cruel, and today feels exactly like that. The season has suddenly come to a halt, and I am still trying to accept it. Honestly, I am very sad.”
Tottenham confirmed the diagnosis in an official statement: “We can confirm that Javi Simons has suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. He will undergo surgery in the coming weeks, after which he will begin his rehabilitation process under the care of our medical team.”
Club and player context
Simons has been an important part of Tottenham’s squad this season, although his statistical output has been modest. He featured regularly in the league and international fixtures for the Netherlands.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | 23 |
| Club | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Position | Attacking midfielder |
| Premier League appearances | 28 (19 starts) |
| Total goals this season | 5 |
| Netherlands appearances | 34 |
| Goals for Netherlands | 6 |
| Injury | Ruptured ACL (right knee) |
| Treatment | Surgery scheduled within weeks |
| Expected recovery time | 6–9 months |
Tottenham remain engaged in a relegation battle in the Premier League. After 34 matches, they sit 18th with 34 points, while West Ham United are 17th with 36 points. Four league fixtures remain for Tottenham this season.
World Cup implications
The FIFA World Cup is scheduled to begin on 11 June, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Netherlands will begin their Group F campaign against Japan on 14 June. Simons’ injury rules him out of participation in the tournament.
ACL injuries have also affected several other international players in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup, including Brazil winger Rodrygo, France’s Hugo Ekitike, Argentina’s Juan Foyth, Joaquín Panichelli, and Germany’s Serge Nabri. Concerns have also been raised regarding the fitness of players such as Lamine Yamal, Mohamed Salah, Estevão, Arda Güler and Éder Militão.
In Salah’s case, the Liverpool forward sustained a hamstring injury during a match on Saturday, with reports indicating it could also end his season. Yamal’s campaign has already concluded, adding further uncertainty to squad selections for the tournament.