Dejan Kulusevski Nears Tottenham Return After 16-Month Injury Nightmare

After 391 days of grueling rehabilitation, multiple surgeries, and the heartbreak of missing a World Cup, Dejan Kulusevski finally looks ready to play football again. The Tottenham Hotspur winger has provided the most significant indication yet that his 16-month injury nightmare is drawing to a close, sharing footage of himself moving freely and dynamically during a recent workout.[1]

The 26-year-old Swedish international took to Instagram this week to post a short clip of himself playing a two-on-two basketball game. In the video, Kulusevski is seen driving aggressively to the basket from beyond the three-point line before executing a sharp pass—movements that require the exact kind of explosive knee stability he has spent over a year trying to rebuild.[1]

A subsequent photo showed a Tottenham-branded football resting on a training pitch, heavily implying that his court sessions are running parallel to his return to the grass. For Spurs supporters, the visual evidence of their talisman cutting and pivoting without hesitation is the best news to emerge from the club in months.[1]

Kulusevski's ordeal began in February 2025 when he suffered a severe patella injury. The complex nature of the tendon damage required multiple surgical interventions, completely wiping out his 2025/26 Premier League campaign before it even began.[1]

Throughout his absence, the forward has been transparent about the grueling nature of his recovery, frequently posting snippets of isolated gym work and cautious straight-line running. However, this latest update marks a definitive shift from controlled rehabilitation to dynamic, reactive movement.[1]

The timing of his physical breakthrough carries a bittersweet undertone. Kulusevski had pushed his body to the absolute limit in hopes of proving his fitness for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He even declared himself available for selection earlier this month.[1][2]

Ultimately, Sweden national team manager Graham Potter made the difficult decision to leave the attacker out of the tournament squad. Potter opted against risking a player who had not seen competitive minutes in over a year, prioritizing Kulusevski's long-term career health over a rushed return to the international stage.[1]

While the World Cup omission was undoubtedly a heavy blow for the player, it has provided a massive silver lining for Tottenham. Instead of navigating the physical toll of a summer tournament, Kulusevski can now dedicate his entire focus to being ready for the start of Spurs' pre-season training in July.

His return cannot come soon enough for a club that desperately missed his creative output. Without their primary right-sided playmaker, Tottenham endured a highly tumultuous 2025/26 season, cycling through three different managers and only narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of the campaign.[1]

Now, with Roberto De Zerbi installed at the helm, the landscape in North London is shifting. The Italian tactician's possession-heavy, expansive system relies heavily on intelligent, technically gifted wingers who can operate in half-spaces—a role tailor-made for a fully fit Kulusevski.[1]

Getting the Swede back on the pitch effectively serves as a marquee summer signing for De Zerbi. If club medical staff officially clear him for full-contact drills when the squad reconvenes at Hotspur Way, he will have a full pre-season to absorb the new manager's tactical demands.[2]

For now, the sight of Kulusevski smiling and competing—even on a basketball court—signals the end of a dark chapter. As Tottenham looks to rebuild and reassert themselves in the Premier League, their Swedish star appears ready to lead the charge.[1]