James Maddison, Tottenham Hotspur's midfielder, is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. The injury occurred during a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United in Seoul on Sunday.

Spurs have confirmed that the 28-year-old will undergo surgery in the coming days, after which he will begin his rehabilitation with the club's medical team. The club has expressed its support for Maddison, wishing him a full and speedy recovery.

Maddison's injury is a significant blow for Tottenham and their new head coach, Thomas Frank. Frank described the injury as "brutal". The midfielder had previously missed the end of last season, including the Europa League final, due to a knee injury. This latest setback involves the same knee.

ACL injuries typically require a recovery period of at least six to seven months, with some players needing even longer to regain full fitness and contribute effectively to the team. While there is no specific timeframe for Maddison's return, it is expected that he will miss the majority of the 2025-26 season.

Maddison's injury occurred late in the game against Newcastle, just minutes before the final whistle. He was stretchered off the pitch, visibly distraught.

The injury may prompt Tottenham to seek additional attacking midfield reinforcements in the transfer market. They had already signed Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United this summer. Prior to Maddison's injury, Spurs were reportedly interested in Morgan Gibbs-White, but a deal did not materialize.

The news of Maddison's injury coincides with Son Heung-min's departure to LAFC, leaving Tottenham without two of their key attacking players.