Spurs share when Dejan Kulusevski will be back with the first team after more than 500 days away
Spurs’ forgotten star Dejan Kulusevski is finally ready to get back on the pitch after more than 500 days off due to injury.
Kulusevski hurt his knee in a game against Crystal Palace in May 2025, which forced him to miss the Europa League final win over Manchester United— one he had to watch from the sidelines on crutches.
He then missed the entire 2026/27 season, during which Spurs struggled and barely avoided relegation.
But after nearly a year and a half out, it looks like Kulusevski’s injury troubles are behind him. He started training again in early September and might even be named on the bench for Spurs’ upcoming game against newly-promoted Coventry City on Monday.
The medical team has given him the green light to be part of the squad, and manager Roberto De Zerbi was thrilled to share the good news with Kulusevski, who smiled big when he heard it.
In his press conference, De Zerbi said, “Yes, he’ll be on the bench. The medical staff gave the okay. It’s probably the best news since the Everton game. He’s been through a lot. I told him yesterday, and he was so happy.”
Kulusevski had hoped to make it back in time for the 2026 World Cup with Sweden but wasn’t quite ready. His injury was complicated; he first had patella surgery and then a minor follow-up procedure. Sweden’s team doctor, Jonas Werner, explained the slow recovery, saying cartilage injuries like Kulusevski’s are tough, especially since his injury is in a part of the knee that gets a lot of pressure.
“It’s been a long journey for Dejan,” Werner said. “He did everything he could to be ready, but in the end, he hadn’t played for a year. Even medical tests this spring showed he wasn’t quite ready. Cartilage injuries are tricky, and his just hadn’t healed enough to handle the stress.”
Still, Werner remains hopeful Kulusevski will play again. The club called his return “the news we’ve been waiting for” on their website.
This is great news for Spurs boss Graham Potter, who recently said Kulusevski was “very close” to coming back and called him “incredibly important” and “a world-class player.” If all goes well, Kulusevski could even be available for selection during the November international break.
Kulusevski joined Spurs on loan in 2022 before making the move permanent and has since played 146 games for the club in all competitions.