Dejan Kulusevski Nears Tottenham Return After 450-Day Injury Layoff

The 450-day wait is nearing its end. Dejan Kulusevski is back on the grass at Hotspur Way, taking a significant step toward returning to competitive football after a devastating patellar tendon injury.[1][4]

Tottenham Hotspur released encouraging footage this week showing the 26-year-old Swedish winger engaging in ball work, passing drills, and shooting into full-size nets.[4][5]

The sight of Kulusevski running alongside teammate Mohammed Kudus—who is recovering from his own quad issue—has provided a much-needed lift for the Spurs fanbase ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League campaign.[5]

Kulusevski's nightmare began in May 2025 during a match against Crystal Palace. What was initially hoped to be a manageable knock turned out to be a complex right patella injury requiring multiple surgical procedures, including a second operation in March 2026.[1][4]

The extended layoff cost Kulusevski dearly on the international stage, forcing him to miss Sweden's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.[1][6]

Domestically, Tottenham deeply felt his absence. During his 15 months away, the club endured a chaotic period, cycling through managers Ange Postecoglou, Thomas Frank, and Igor Tudor before Roberto De Zerbi arrived in March to steer them clear of relegation.[1]

Now, De Zerbi is eager to integrate the versatile attacker into his possession-based system. Speaking during the club's recent pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand, the Italian manager offered a glowing assessment of the Swede.[3][4]

"Kulusevski fit and right, he's one of the best players we have in the squad," De Zerbi told reporters, emphasizing the winger's importance to Tottenham's tactical rebuild.[2][3]

Despite the optimism, the club is exercising extreme caution. Medical staff are phasing Kulusevski back into team activities slowly to avoid any risk of a setback with such a notoriously difficult tendon injury.[5][6]

De Zerbi echoed this patient approach, noting that while he hopes the player is available "as early as possible," he refuses to put undue pressure on the rehabilitation timeline.[2][6]

Kulusevski himself has shared updates on his personal social media, posting videos of his individual drills and expressing relief at finally being able to strike a football again.[5]

While a firm return date remains unconfirmed, the consensus is that Kulusevski could feature in the early weeks of the new Premier League season, completing one of the most grueling injury comebacks in recent top-flight history.[1][3]