More than 400 days out: De Jong’s sorry injury record at Barcelona as he faces another 5-6 months out | OneFootball

Frenkie de Jong’s latest injury adds another chapter to an increasingly frustrating fitness record since arriving at FC Barcelona in 2019.

As confirmed by the club today, the Dutch midfielder has been diagnosed with a tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee, ruling him out for five to six months and dealing Hansi Flick a major setback ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Signed from Ajax as one of Europe’s brightest midfield talents, De Jong has seen his Barcelona career repeatedly interrupted by injuries.

Over the past seven years, he has suffered multiple muscular problems, a previous knee injury and three serious injuries to his right ankle, all of which have affected his continuity for both club and country.

In all, Frenkie has been out for more than 400 days through injuries during his time at Barcelona, and will now miss another 150 days, taking the total to well over a year and a half.

Early setbacks

De Jong’s first significant injury as a Barcelona player came in June 2020, when he suffered a calf muscle injury in his right leg during training.

The setback forced him to miss the closing stages of the season and sparked debate over the management of his recovery.

The following campaign also proved difficult. During pre-season, he sustained a calf injury but recovered in time for the start of the competitive season.

Later that year, another muscular problem sidelined him for several matches, and in January 2022 he picked up a minor muscle strain that briefly kept him out again.

The 2022-23 season brought further setbacks. While on international duty with the Netherlands in September, De Jong suffered another muscle injury that forced him to miss several Barcelona matches.

In March 2023, he then sustained a knee injury that ruled him out for around a month, causing him to miss important fixtures in both La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

The ankle nightmare

De Jong’s most difficult period came during the 2023-24 season.On 23 September 2023, he suffered a syndesmotic sprain in his right ankle during a league match against Celta Vigo.

The injury kept him out for more than two months and forced him to miss 14 official matches.

Just as he appeared ready to return, he suffered another injury to the same ankle against Athletic Club on 3 March 2024, delaying his comeback once again.

De Jong has had a tough time due to injuries. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The worst blow arrived on 21 April 2024 during El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu as it resulted in a third sprain to the same ankle in less than a year. It was the most serious injury of his Barcelona career to that point and sidelined him for more than five months.

The lengthy recovery also meant De Jong missed Euro 2024 with the Netherlands after it became clear his ankle had not recovered as hoped. It marked one of the biggest disappointments of his professional career.

His recurring ankle problems prompted discussions about surgery, but both the player and Barcelona ultimately opted for conservative treatment in an effort to avoid an operation.

Although the rehabilitation process was lengthy, it eventually allowed him to return to competitive football.

Back, then sidelined again

Despite those setbacks, De Jong fought his way back into Barcelona’s starting lineup and re-established himself as one of the team’s most influential midfielders under Hansi Flick, proving once again the level he can reach when fully fit.

He endured a couple more spells out on the sidelines during the 2025/26 season, one due to a muscle problem, another because of a hamstring injury.

Now, another serious injury has interrupted his progress. With a knee ligament injury set to keep him out for an extended period, Barcelona will once again have to wait for one of their key players to complete another difficult road to recovery.