Barcelona confirm huge Frenkie de Jong knee injury blow | OneFootball

Barcelona have been dealt an early setback ahead of the 2026/27 season after confirming that midfielder Frenkie de Jong has suffered a knee injury that will keep him out for several weeks.

The Spanish club announced that the Netherlands international has torn the medial collateral ligament in his right knee. 

While Barcelona did not provide a specific timeline for his return, the good news is that the injury will not require surgery. He will begin a rehabilitation program and hope to return as soon as possible.

The injury was discovered after several medical examinations carried out over the past few days. 

De Jong had already been dealing with discomfort while on international duty at the World Cup, where he was often seen wearing a protective bandage on his right knee. 

After the tournament, De Jong was given extra time off and visited Barcelona’s training facilities earlier this week to undergo further checks, leading to the final diagnosis.

The news is a major disappointment for Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, who had hoped to start the campaign with one of his most experienced midfielders available. 

De Jong was a crucial player for Barcelona last season, making 38 appearances across all competitions.

He scored just once but weighed in with eight assists. He also averaged two interceptions, 2.3 tackles, 2.3 clearances, and five ball recoveries per 90 minutes.

De Jong also won half of his aerial duels and came out on top in 59% of his ground battles.

Despite losing such an important player, Barcelona are not expected to make any changes to their transfer plans. They believe they have the quality and depth in midfield to cope with De Jong’s absence. 

Barcelona are also moving ahead with their transfer plans, with the club working on a potential exit for Marc Casado rather than searching for a replacement for De Jong.

De Jong’s latest injury continues a frustrating run of fitness problems.

Over the past two seasons, he has struggled with several setbacks, including a serious ankle issue and a thigh injury that sidelined him for nearly two months last season.