Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that James Maddison will miss most of the 2025/26 season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in pre-season. The Spurs midfielder has been struck with the devastating news after tumbling to the ground in agony during Sunday's 1-1 draw against Newcastle United.

Maddison missed the end of last season, including Spurs' Europa League final triumph over Manchester United, with a knee injury. After appearing as a second-half substitute against Newcastle in Seoul, South Korea, the 28-year-old overextended the same knee and immediately signalled a problem.

Maddison looked severely distressed before exiting the pitch on a stretcher. He was later spotted leaving the stadium on crutches, and Thomas Frank admitted it looked like a "bad injury".

The Spurs head coach said: "Sometimes in life and football things can be both beautiful and brutal. That's what we got today.

"It looks like with Madders a bad injury and then on the other side unbelievable scenes for Son from his team-mates and the respect from the Newcastle players [who gave Son a guard of honour].

"We're pretty sure it was the same knee he [Maddison] injured before."

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Maddison is set to undergo surgery that will keep him sidelined for the majority of the new campaign.

A Spurs statement read: "We can confirm that James Maddison will undergo surgery for a ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his right knee.

"The 28-year-old midfielder suffered the injury during our pre-season friendly against Newcastle United on Sunday in Seoul.

"His surgery will take place in the coming days and, following that, James will then begin his rehabilitation with our medical team.

"Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur wishes James a full and speedy recovery. We will be supporting him every step of the way."

It's a heartbreaking development ahead of a major season of transition at Spurs under Frank, who will likely be on the hunt to replace such a key player.

Players will also be looking ahead to next summer when the 2026 World Cup takes place in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Maddison's long-term injury layoff makes his inclusion in Thomas Tuchel's England squad now highly unlikely.

The former Leicester City playmaker had undergone a series of tests since returning from Asia on Monday.

Tottenham figures shared initial fears that Maddison had suffered cruciate ligament damage, and those worries have since come to fruition.