De Ligt undergoes surgery and will be out for Man United till 2026/27 | OneFootball

Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has undergone surgery to address the back injury that has sidelined him since November.

The Man Utd centre-back is now expected to miss the start of next season. The Dutch international will miss the 2026 World Cup.

The 26-year-old has not featured since the game between Man United and Crystal Palace in November, despite optimism from within Old Trafford that he was nearing a return.

The operation was confirmed by Man United on Friday, with the club describing the procedure as successful and necessary after rehabilitation failed to resolve the issue.

De Ligt had initially only been ruled out for a short period by former head coach Ruben Amorim.

Meanwhile, interim boss Michael Carrick later suggested the defender had resumed grass training and could still feature before the end of the campaign.

However, Man United have now accepted that the problem was more serious and complex than first anticipated.

In a statement released by the club, De Ligt admitted he had exhausted every avenue in an effort to return without surgery.

“Since November, I have done everything, pushing myself in every session and exploring every option, to get back to doing what I love, playing football,” he said.

He will not return to action till the early stages of the 2026/27 season.

Before the injury, De Ligt had been one of United’s standout performers, playing every minute of every Premier League game until the end of November.

Hopefully, De Ligt comes back fitter and stronger. But it raises questions about whether Man United will return to the transfer market for reinforcements.

Harry Maguire recently signed a new deal, meaning the Red Devils have Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, and Luke Shaw, who can also step in.

The club might feel better by adding another name to the roster to bolster the numbers for a season in which they will be in the Champions League.