The 17 players who suffered knee injuries in October with Michelle Agyemang among those on the sidelines | OneFootball

October was a brutal month for knee injuries in women’s football, with Michelle Agyemang among a list of 17 players who were sidelined in October.

The Arsenal star, who is on loan at Brighton, suffered a ruptured ACL during England’s 3-0 friendly victory against Australia.

Elsewhere, two Liverpool players were ruled out with ACL injuries, hurting a side who are yet to pick up a point in the Women’s Super League this season.

ACL injuries have become a big concern, with ongoing research looking into why there are so many knee injuries in the women’s game in comparison to the men’s.

SheKicks has compiled a list of 17 players who suffered confirmed knee injuries during October.

Michelle Agyemang leads list of players to suffer knee injuries in October 2025

Michelle Agyemang (Arsenal/Brighton)

Agyemang suffered a ruptured ACL for England in their 3-0 win over Australia.

The 19-year-old will miss the rest of the season in a blow for Brighton, who she joined on loan from Arsenal.

She will also miss England’s World Cup qualifiers, after the Lionesses were drawn alongside Spain, Iceland and Ukraine.

Lais Estevam (Palmeiras)

Brazilian midfielder Lais Estevam is set to miss the rest of the season after suffering an ACL tear during her country’s friendly with Italy last week.

Palmeiras posted on October 31st that Estevam is expected to undergo surgery within four to six weeks.

Merle Frohms (Real Madrid)

Real Madrid goalkeeper Merle Frohms suffered a ruptured posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury during their 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain last month.

The 30-year-old German international is expected to miss four months of action, so could return in time for the business end of the season.

German goalkeeper Merle Frohms is expected to be out for four months (Credit: Marc Schueler/Imago/PA Images

Clare Goldie (Celtic)

Clare Goldie is not expected to return to action this season after suffering an ACL injury.

Celtic confirmed the 20-year-old suffered the injury on October 15th, with Goldie to begin her rehabilitation programme after undergoing surgery.

Sophie Roman Haug (Liverpool)

Liverpool endured a miserable October on and off the pitch, as their pointless start to the season was compounded by ACL injuries for two players.

Sophie Roman Haug is expected to miss the majority of the season after suffering her ACL injury during a League Cup win over Durham.

Marie Hobinger (Liverpool)

Roman Haug’s injury came days after Marie Hobinger suffered an ACL injury during Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City.

Hobinger was in tears as she came off the pitch and her injury is also expected to keep her out for the majority, if not the entirety of the season.

Giovanna Hoffman (RB Leipzig)

German international Giovanna Hoffman suffered a torn ACL, ruling her out for the rest of the season.

Hoffman, who joined RB Leipzig in 2024, previously missed several months of the 2020-21 season with a ruptured cruciate ligament while playing for SC Freiburg.

Liana Joseph (Lyon)

Highly-rated Lyon youngster Liana Joseph is also expected to miss the season with a torn ACL.

The 19-year-old suffered the injury during Lyon’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the Women’s Champions League last month.

Lena Oberdorf (Bayern Munich)

Bayern Munich’s Lena Oberdorf was ruled out with an ACL tear, just one month after recovering from a similar injury.

Oberdorf missed 16 months of action and after her latest injury blow is facing another long spell on the sidelines.

Maite Oroz (Tottenham)

Tottenham midfielder Maite Oroz suffered a ruptured ACL following a collision with a Birmingham City player during a League Cup tie last month.

Oroz is set to undergo surgery and will likely be out for the rest of the campaign.

Ewa Pajor (Barcelona)

There were fears that Ewa Pajor had suffered an ACL injury during Barcelona’s win over Atletico Madrid last month.

However, there was relief when it was discovered that she had suffered a posterolateral injury to her knee. Pajor is already training with the ball and should be back in the coming weeks.

Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)

Barcelona suffered another knee injury for a player last month in Salma Paralluelo.

Paralluelo suffered a partial rupture of the medial collateral ligament in a Nations League clash for Spain against Sweden, and is expected to miss eight to ten weeks of action.

(Pedro Porru / SPP)

Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit)

USA international Trinity Rodman has suffered a number of injuries this season and is back on the sidelines after suffering an MCL sprain.

There is no confirmed timetable for her return, though Washington hopes to have her back in time for the first round of the playoffs.

Florentina Sensenberger (LASK)

Austrian club LASK confirmed that 20-year-old Florentina Sensenberger suffered an ACL injury during a training session.

Annika Svensson (Djugardens)

Djugardens confirmed that 19-year-old Swedish star Annika Svensson suffered an ACL injury at the beginning of October.

It is an injury that will likely keep out for the majority of the season.

Ruka Yamaya (Albirex Niigata Ladies)

Japanese midfielder Ruka Yamaya suffered a torn ACL during training for Alibirex Niigata Ladies on October 1st.

She underwent surgery days later and has begun her rehabilitation programme.

Manuela Zinsberger (Arsenal)

The final player who suffered a knee injury in October is Manuela Zinsberger, who like her Arsenal teammate Michelle Agyemang, suffered a ruptured ACL.

Arsenal confirmed that Zinsberger is expected to be sidelined for the rest of the season.

Photo: Kunjan Malde for The FA

Why are there so many knee injuries in women’s football?

The knee injuries sustained by the likes of Michelle Agyemang, Lena Oberdorf and Liana Joseph raise the question of why there are so many in women’s football.

FIFA is funding a year-long study at Kingston University London, which began in May, to look into the issue.

Lucy Bronze has also helped launch ‘Project ACL’ with FIFPRO, Nike and Leeds Beckett University to accelerate research into ACL injuries in women’s football.

There have been a number of theories as to why there are more knee injuries in women’s football but none have been proven.

In May 2024, University College London, University of Bath and St Mary’s University suggested players are more likely to get injured at certain points of their menstrual cycle.

The BBC reported that FIFA’s research will track hormone concentrations through menstrual cycles. Scenarios that commonly lead to ACL injuries such as rapid directional changes and landing after heading the ball, is also being analysed to see if there is a correlation with hormone levels.

The Project ACL study is looking at other factors including quality and frequency of access to training facilities, travel, playing schedules, football boots and pitches which have also been mentioned as possible causes.

The men’s game has seen a number of ACL injuries this season but not to the same extent as in women’s football.

Since August, Premier League footballers James Maddison, Levi Colwill and Giovanni Leoni all sustained ACL injuries.