Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Xavi Simons has been ruled out for the remainder of the season and the 2026 World Cup after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament. The 23-year-old sustained the injury during Saturday's 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux and is expected to be sidelined for approximately eight months.
Simons was stretchered off in the 63rd minute after twisting his knee while chasing a ball towards the byline. The injury is a significant blow for both the player and the club, as new manager Roberto De Zerbi had been relying on Simons' creativity in their battle against relegation. Despite the win over Wolves—their first in 16 league matches—Spurs remain 18th in the Premier League table, two points adrift of safety with four games remaining.
De Zerbi was already without nine players due to injury at Wolves, and striker Dominic Solanke also limped off during the match with a muscle problem. Tottenham's next fixture is away to Aston Villa on Sunday.
In an emotional Instagram post, Simons wrote: 'They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way. My season has come to an abrupt end and I'm just trying to process it. Honestly, I'm heartbroken. None of it makes sense. All I've wanted to do is fight for my team and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me, along with the World Cup.'
Tottenham confirmed in a statement that Simons will undergo surgery in the coming weeks and begin rehabilitation with the club's medical team. 'Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur sends Xavi our love and support – we will be with him every step of the way,' the statement added.
