Dejan Kulusevski’s return remains unclear after more than a year out | OneFootball

Dejan Kulusevski remains sidelined by a recurrent right knee problem, more than a year after his last appearance, with Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi cautious over any return date. The 26-year-old has now gone a full season without playing.

He injured the knee on 11 May 2025 during a 2-0 Premier League defeat at Crystal Palace, then had patella surgery that prolonged an absence initially expected to last only months. « La Coupe du monde est ma motivation. [...] Je suis convaincu que je serai prêt à jouer mon premier Mondial aux États-Unis. C'est comme cela que le film va se terminer », he said in March, telling The Sun at the time.

He remains away from the team and did not travel for Spurs’ pre-season tour in Australia and New Zealand before the squad heads to Asia. He also missed the World Cup. Before a friendly against Auckland FC that finished 2-0, De Zerbi said they would reassess in the coming weeks and stressed there would be no risks after a season without a match.

No return date has been communicated, and the next recovery steps could shape a phased return to team training. A comeback for the Premier League opener at Brentford on 22 August appears unlikely.

Uncertainty persists over his short-term future, and he has two years left on his Tottenham contract. The Sweden international has 45 caps and 5 goals.

Source: L'Équipe