Tottenham s Maddison faces devastating ACL surgery, is set to undergo surgery

Tottenham midfielder James Maddison is facing surgery after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, a devastating blow for both the player and the club. The 28-year-old came on as a substitute during Tottenham’s pre-season match against Newcastle and was on the pitch for only nine minutes before he collapsed in discomfort.

Maddison was visibly distraught, holding his head in his hands as he was stretchered off the pitch. This injury occurred in the same knee that sidelined the England international at the end of last season, causing him to miss Spurs’ Europa League final victory. Maddison was later seen leaving the stadium on crutches, his hopes for a fresh start under new coach Thomas Frank dashed.

After the match, Frank described the injury as "brutal." Tottenham released a statement confirming the worst: "We can confirm that James Maddison will undergo surgery for a ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his right knee. The 28-year-old midfielder suffered the injury during our pre-season friendly against Newcastle United on Sunday in Seoul. His surgery will take place in the coming days and, following that, James will then begin his rehabilitation with our medical team. Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur wishes James a full and speedy recovery. We will be supporting him every step of the way."

How the injury impacts Spurs’ summer plans

According to Sky Sports journalist Sam Blitz, this injury significantly impacts Tottenham's transfer strategy. The club was already in the market for an attacking midfielder, but now that need has become even more urgent.

Spurs had attempted to sign Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest, triggering his £60 million release clause, but the deal was thwarted. Nottingham Forest threatened legal action against Tottenham and the player's agent before convincing Gibbs-White to sign a new contract.

The injury also highlights a growing depth issue in Tottenham's attacking midfield. Dejan Kulusevski is expected to miss the start of the season as he recovers from knee surgery in May, and with Heung-Min Son's recent departure, the club is facing a shortage of creative options.

While Spurs have temporary solutions in Pape Sarr, who has been scoring from a more advanced position in pre-season, and new £55 million signing Mohammed Kudus, who can play centrally, this is far from an ideal start for new boss Thomas Frank. The coach's goal of improving Spurs' ability to compete on multiple fronts has been made considerably more difficult by this unexpected and severe injury to a key player.