Tottenham's Dejan Kulusevski Nearly Retired After Devastating Knee Injury

Dejan Kulusevski Opens Up About His Career-Ending Fears

Tottenham Hotspur winger Dejan Kulusevski has shared the emotional and physical challenges he faced during a year-long injury break. The Sweden international missed the entire 2025-26 season after suffering a severe knee injury in a collision with Marc Guehi on the last day of the previous campaign.

A Devastating Injury

The former Juventus player sustained significant damage in the final game of the 2024-25 season. After clashing with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, scans showed that part of Kulusevski's cartilage had detached and moved inside his knee joint, a condition that doctors said could not be repaired.

Following a long and demanding recovery, Kulusevski only recently returned to competitive action. He made brief appearances off the bench against Coventry and Chelsea, ending a frustrating 526-day period away from playing.

Revealing the Pain to His Family

Speaking to Tottenham’s official website, Kulusevski described the moments after the injury occurred. Although he felt discomfort immediately, the full extent of the damage became clear only later.

"I remember the game; it started like a good warm-up. Then about 10 minutes in, I took a hit," Kulusevski said. "It was painful but not the worst pain I've felt. I could tell my knee was moving strangely. I broke my cartilage, and it moved to a different part of the knee. They told me they couldn't fix cartilage, and scans confirmed part of it was gone."

The injury soon took a toll on his mental health. Kulusevski recalled a tough conversation with his mother where he admitted doubts about continuing his career.

"I sat down with my mom and told her, 'Listen, I don’t think this is going to work out,'" he shared. "I had to prepare her by saying, 'I don’t think I can play anymore.'"

Missing Tottenham's Triumph

His extended absence meant Kulusevski missed one of Tottenham’s biggest achievements in recent years: winning the 2025 Europa League final against Manchester United. While the team celebrated, Kulusevski found it hard to join in the joy.

"That was one of the toughest days of my life," he reflected. "It was wonderful to see everyone happy, but very hard for me. I was on crutches and couldn’t walk. I couldn’t even go on the podium to get my medal because it was slippery."

He also described being stuck in Barcelona during the celebrations, unable to travel back with the squad. Seeing his teammates celebrate without him was the most difficult part of his recovery journey.

Looking Ahead: Rebuilding Form Against Crystal Palace

After taking his first cautious steps back into competitive football, Kulusevski aims to regain full fitness and form. Tottenham will face Crystal Palace soon, hoping to secure their third straight win. This match offers an opportunity for Kulusevski to reintegrate into the squad and move past his injury struggles.

• Injury duration: 526 days sidelined
• Injury type: Cartilage detachment in knee
• Return matches: Appearances vs Coventry and Chelsea
• Missed event: 2025 Europa League final victory