Xavi Simons suffers ACL injury, ruled out for up to eight months
Tottenham Hotspur's Xavi Simons is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after confirming he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during Saturday's Premier League win at Wolverhampton Wanderers. The 22-year-old Dutch international is expected to be out for up to eight months, a devastating blow that rules him out of the remainder of Tottenham's relegation battle and the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the Netherlands.
Simons sustained the injury in the 63rd minute at Molineux, twisting his knee awkwardly in a fall. He was stretchered from the pitch in clear distress. In an emotional post on his Instagram account, Simons wrote, "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. 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."
The injury represents a cruel twist for a player who had become central to Tottenham's hopes of avoiding the drop. Since his arrival from RB Leipzig last August for a fee reported to be £51.8 million (€60m), Simons has been a standout performer in a difficult season, scoring six goals and providing seven assists in the Premier League. His recent form had been particularly inspirational, offering a creative spark in manager Roberto De Zerbi's attack.
His absence now leaves a significant void in Tottenham's squad for their final four matches of the season. The club secured a vital 1-0 victory at Wolves, their first league win of 2026 and the first under De Zerbi, moving them to within three points of safety. However, they must now continue their survival push without their most influential attacker. The club last suffered relegation from the top flight in 1977.
The injury exacerbates an already severe crisis for De Zerbi, who saw his available options further diminished during the match when striker Dominic Solanke was forced off with a muscle injury. According to the manager, Solanke is an early doubt for next weekend's crucial fixture against Aston Villa. Simons now joins a lengthy injury list that reportedly includes goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, defenders Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies, and Cristian Romero, and midfielders Pape Sarr, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, and Wilson Odobert.
James Maddison, who has been sidelined since suffering his own ACL injury last summer, has recently returned to the bench but has yet to feature competitively under De Zerbi. The manager now faces difficult decisions about how to reconfigure his attack. Speaking after the Wolves match, De Zerbi outlined potential solutions, stating, "We can play with Mathys Tel on the left. [Randal] Kolo Muani on the right. [Pedro] Souza on the right. [Lucas] Bergvall on the left. We have to create." He emphasized a desire to keep tactical instructions clear for a squad that has endured a turbulent campaign.
For Simons, the personal cost is immense, with a World Cup appearance for the Netherlands this summer now impossible. The long rehabilitation ahead will also impact his preparations for the 2026-27 season, whenever Tottenham's campaign may begin. The injury casts a shadow over what had been a promising first season in English football for one of Europe's most exciting young talents.
