Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Mon 27 April 2026 18:55, UK

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Ryan Gravenberch and Joshua Zirkzee are among the players to send messages to Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Xavi Simons after he tore his ACL.

The Dutchman went down under no contact midway through the second half of Saturday’s 1-0 win over Wolves and could only leave the pitch via a stretcher.

Roberto De Zerbi later confirmed that Simons had suffered a knee injury, and the worst fears have now been confirmed.

The 23-year-old will miss both the World Cup with the Netherlands and likely the remaining games in 2026.

Tottenham’s injury issues have been relentless this season, with De Zerbi now set to cope with yet another significant blow in their battle for safety.

Premier League stars react to Xavi Simons

Simons has struggled in his first Tottenham season since arriving in a £51million deal from RB Leipzig last summer.

The midfielder, like the entire squad, has struggled to find consistency amid the tumultuous situation at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

De Zerbi has looked to get more out of Simons than Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor did, however.

The 23-year-old enjoyed perhaps his best performance of the season as Tottenham drew with Brighton earlier this month, with what should have been his brilliant winning goal cancelled out by Georginio Rutter’s 95th-minute strike.

But De Zerbi will now have to make do without Simons amid what is rapidly turning into a creative crisis for Tottenham.

Dejan Kulusevski and Mohammed Kudus remain injured for the Lilywhites, and while James Maddison has returned from his ACL injury to sit on the bench, he is yet to make an appearance.

Simons took to Instagram on Sunday night to confirm that he will be missing both the remainder of the season and the World Cup.

“My season has come to an abrupt end and I’m just trying to process it,” he wrote. “Honestly, I’m heartbroken. None of it makes sense.

“All I’ve wanted to do is fight for my team and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me… along with the World Cup. Representing my country this summer…just gone.”

Netherlands teammates Gravenberch and Zirkzee both sent messages with heart and prayer emojis.

Rodrygo replies with three words

This season has appeared to be full of ACL injuries, with Tottenham hit especially hard by the 10-month recovery period.

Maddison tore his ACL in pre-season and has spent the entire season out, and Wilson Odobert tore his in February.

Ahead of a World Cup packed into an already incredibly busy season, the concerns surrounding player welfare are beginning to intensify once more.

Real Madrid winger Rodrygo is also recovering from an ACL injury suffered earlier this year, and sent Simons a message on Sunday. He wrote: “Get well soon!”