Seventeen Premier League players are expected to miss the start of the 2026-27 season after sustaining injuries during the World Cup. Among the most notable absentees are Arsenal defender William Saliba, who could be out for up to five months with a back injury, and Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who faces at least nine months on the sidelines after a serious knee injury.
Arsenal's Saliba and Rice Face Uncertain Returns
William Saliba, a key figure in Arsenal's title-winning campaign, was forced off after just 30 minutes in France's 2-0 loss to Belgium. The defender had been managing a back injury before the tournament and could miss up to five months, including the third-place match against England. Arsenal's Declan Rice is also managing a nerve issue that caused him to come off during England's match against Norway, though he returned for the Argentina game and must be cautious to avoid aggravating the problem.
Major Blows for Manchester United and Chelsea
Manuel Ugarte suffered a devastating knee injury in Uruguay's game against Spain, ending his tournament and ruling him out until at least late 2026. Chelsea's Reece James went down in the 80th minute of England's semi-final against Argentina, adding to his injury woes after an inconsistent tournament. The Blues also have Estêvão recovering from a hamstring tear sustained shortly after signing; he opted against surgery to attempt World Cup rehabilitation but was ultimately unfit for Brazil's squad and is now expected to be fit for the season start.
Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hit by Injuries
Crystal Palace's Yéremy Pino suffered a shoulder injury against Uruguay and played on after Spain used all substitutes. Scans revealed no fracture, with recovery estimated at three weeks to four months. Tottenham's Xavi Simons ruptured his ACL against Wolves last season, missing the rest of the campaign and the World Cup. Spurs have already spent £237 million in the transfer window to cover his absence.
Liverpool's New Signings and Other Casualties
Liverpool's Victor Muñoz, a new signing, has yet to feature for Spain due to a calf injury from last season and picked up another during the tournament, ruling him out of pre-season. Hugo Ekitike, who scored 17 goals in his debut Liverpool season, suffered an Achilles rupture against PSG and will miss the start of the season. Jérémy Jacquet, signed from Rennes, suffered a shoulder injury but has been declared fully fit for pre-season tour.
Brighton, Manchester United, and Others
Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma was left out of Japan's World Cup squad after a hamstring injury against Wolves and hopes to return at the start of next season. Manchester United's Matthijs de Ligt underwent back surgery in May and is a doubt for the beginning of the season. Jurriën Timber missed the Netherlands' squad due to a groin injury sustained in March, but Arsenal are confident he will be ready for the season start.
Additional Injuries
Jordan Henderson shattered his arm while jumping a barrier in celebration of England's round-of-16 win against Mexico and could miss the start of the season with Brentford. Tino Livramento returned home three days before England's World Cup campaign began after a calf injury, underwent minor surgery, and is expected to miss up to five weeks. Wataru Endo withdrew three days before the tournament with a foot injury, ending his international career with 73 caps. Mohammed Kudus missed Ghana's squad after a quad injury setback and hopes to return for Spurs' first league match against Brentford in August.
