Dejan Kulusevski Edges Closer To Tottenham Return After Over 500 Days Out With Serious Knee Injury

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dejan Kulusevski has taken a significant step toward his long-awaited return to competitive football after taking part in an 11-a-side training match at Hotspur Way, 513 days after he went out.

The 26-year-old Sweden international has not featured competitively since Tottenham’s 2-0 Premier League defeat against Crystal Palace on 11 May 2025, when he suffered a serious injury to his right kneecap.

According to the Daily Mail, Kulusevski played in an internal training match during the international break, with further reports suggesting he even scored.

The match featured a team containing Tottenham first-team players against an opposition side made up of Under-21 and Under-18 academy players.

Although the number of minutes Kulusevski played remains unknown, his participation marks an important milestone after an almost 17-month rehabilitation period.

Kulusevski’s injury initially appeared relatively minor, with Ange Postecoglou famously saying it was “just a knock”, but later medical examinations identified a more complex problem with the patellar cartilage in his right knee.

He underwent surgery in May 2025, missing Tottenham’s Europa League final victory over Manchester United, before needing a second procedure in early 2026.

The prolonged recovery also forced him to miss the entire 2025/26 campaign and Sweden’s 2026 World Cup campaign.

Kulusevski returned to first-team training in early September but suffered another setback that temporarily interrupted his progress. He has since resumed training and increased his workload.

Tottenham’s medical department, led by performance director Dan Lewindon, continues to manage his rehabilitation carefully, with no pressure for a return or a confirmed date for his return to competitive action.

His eventual availability would provide Roberto De Zerbi with an important attacking option during a difficult start to the Premier League season. Tottenham sit bottom of the table after five matches, with just two points and two goals scored despite spending more than £ 300 million in the summer transfer window.

Kulusevski’s attacking contribution before his injury highlights what Tottenham have been missing. In the 2024/25 campaign, the Swedish international recorded 10 goals and 11 assists in 50 appearances across all competitions, including seven goals and four assists in 32 Premier League matches.

Capable of operating centrally as an attacking midfielder or on the right flank, Kulusevski offers creativity, ball progression and an additional goal threat.

Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday, 10 October with the game being shown live on Sky Sports.