In a devastating blow for Tottenham Hotspur and the Netherlands, Xavi Simons has been confirmed to have ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, ruling him out for the remainder of the season and this summer’s 2026 World Cup. “We can confirm that Xavi Simons has ruptured the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his right knee,” Tottenham confirmed in an official statement on Monday morning.
How the Injury Occurred
Simons sustained the right knee injury in the second half of Spurs’ 1-0 win over Wolves on Saturday in Wolverhampton, England. The Dutchman initially got back to his feet, but went back down and the severity of the issue has now been confirmed.
The 23-year-old suffered the devastating knee injury during the second half of Spurs’ 1-0 win at Wolves after falling awkwardly, yet he was asked to perform tests and jumps on the touchline instead of being immediately withdrawn. The decision to initially ask Simons to continue has drawn fierce criticism from fans and pundits alike.
Official Tottenham Statement
“Xavi will undergo surgery in the coming weeks and, following that, will then begin his rehabilitation with our medical team,” Tottenham said in a statement.
Injury Details and Recovery Timeline
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Injury Type | Ruptured ACL (Right Knee) |
| Match | Wolves vs Tottenham (April 25) |
| Status | Surgery Pending |
| Recovery Period | Approximately 9 Months |
| Season Status | Ruled Out |
| World Cup Status | Ruled Out |
Simons is expected to miss around nine months of action as a result of the injury.
Simons’ Heartbreaking Reaction
In a post on social media, Simons said he is “heartbroken” to be ruled out for a crucial period as Spurs battle relegation, alongside this summer’s World Cup with the Netherlands. “They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way,” Simons wrote in a social media post. Following the injury, Simons said: “All I’ve wanted to do is fight for my team and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me.”
2025/26 Season Statistics Before Injury
| Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Competitions | 41 | 5 | 6 |
Simons totaled five goals and six assists over 41 appearances across all 2025-26 competitions for Spurs, who are in 18th place in the Premier League standings.
World Cup Dream Over for the Netherlands
A “heartbroken” Xavi Simons will miss this summer’s FIFA World Cup for the Netherlands after tearing his right ACL in English Premier League action on Saturday. Simons had been a regular call-up under Ronald Koeman throughout the build-up to North America 2026, and he featured in both national team matches during the March international break against Norway and Ecuador.
The Dutch will take on Japan in a Group F opener at the 2026 World Cup on June 14 in Arlington, Texas. Without Simons, the Netherlands lose one of their most creative and decisive attacking players at the tournament. Koeman has had to deal with many absences in recent times, with Frenkie de Jong, Emmanuel Emegha, Matthijs de Ligt, Mark Flekken, and Jeremie Frimpong all missing the March friendlies. PSV captain and Oranje midfielder Jerdy Schouten was already ruled out for the World Cup after tearing his ACL in early April.
Tottenham’s Growing Injury Crisis
The absence of £52m Simons is just the latest injury blow for Spurs, who sit two points adrift of safety with four games to go, after seeing summer-signing Mohammed Kudus and captain Cristian Romero ruled out for the rest of the season in the first month of De Zerbi’s time in charge.
| Player | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Xavi Simons | ACL (Right Knee) | Season and World Cup Over |
| Dominic Solanke | Grade-2 Hamstring | Season Likely Over |
| Cristian Romero | Undisclosed | Season Over |
| Mohammed Kudus | Undisclosed | Season Over |
| James Maddison | Long-Term Injury | Yet to Play |
| Dejan Kulusevski | Long-Term Injury | Yet to Play |
Since January 2025, Radu Dragusin, James Maddison, and Wilson Odobert have suffered the same ACL fate as Simons.
Medical Team Under Scrutiny
Questions have been placed on the medical team, and that scrutiny intensified after the Dutchman initially attempted to continue before being withdrawn.
Tim Sherwood was among the harshest critics, saying Spurs’ persistent injury issues “need to be looked at. This is ridiculous now.”
Relegation Battle Without Their Star
Already in the midst of a relegation battle, and with just four matches remaining, this injury is a heavy blow to their survival chances. With Tottenham’s usual creative forces James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski yet to play this season, and Kudus out since January, Simons had been thrust into a larger role than was initially expected. If Tottenham get relegated, they could still have James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Xavi Simons — three very big names — still at the club in the Championship.
Read More: Dominic Solanke Season Could Be Over After Grade-Two Hamstring Injury
