Tottenham have confirmed that 23-year-old Xavi Simons has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will need surgery, ruling him out for the rest of the season and the World Cup with the Netherlands. The injury occurred in the 58th minute of Saturday’s 1-0 win at Wolves — Spurs’ first Premier League victory of 2026 — after a challenge involving Wolves defender Hugo Bueno. Simons initially tried to continue but quickly collapsed and was carried off on a stretcher.
The former Paris Saint-Germain forward, who joined Tottenham for around £52m, will undergo an operation in the coming weeks and then begin a rehabilitation programme overseen by the club’s medical team. Spurs said the surgery will take place once arrangements are finalised. Simons posted on Instagram to confirm he will miss the club’s remaining league fixtures and the World Cup, describing himself as heartbroken, saying his season had come to an abrupt end and asking for patience as he focuses on recovery and supporting his teammates.
Simons’ first campaign in England had been mixed. He produced flashes of quality under Thomas Frank, endured a puzzling spell out of the side under Igor Tudor, and had started to find form under Roberto De Zerbi — including a spectacular goal in a 2-2 home draw with Brighton — leading many to hope he would be a key creative spark in Tottenham’s fight to stay up.
His long-term absence is the latest in a string of damaging injuries to hit De Zerbi’s squad. Tottenham are two points adrift of safety with four games left after earlier season-ending losses to summer signing Mohammed Kudus and captain Cristian Romero during De Zerbi’s first month in charge.
Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood urged the club to review its medical and training processes, pointing out that several recent problems have been non-contact or soft-tissue injuries and warning that recurring long-term absences for key players could have severe consequences. Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge also highlighted the scale of the club’s injury crisis, flagging both the sporting and financial risks if relegation were to occur and calling Simons’ ACL tear the worst possible outcome; he questioned the handling of the incident when Simons was briefly encouraged to try to walk.
Tottenham now face the final stretch of the season without one of their most promising attacking talents as they attempt to overturn a two-point deficit to 17th-placed West Ham and avoid what would be the club’s first relegation in 49 years.