The star has not played for Tottenham since May 2025, due to a serious injury.
Tottenham Hotspur star Dejan Kulusevski has not been able to play since the end of the 2024/25 Premier League season with a serious knee injury. What was once referred to as just a ‘knock’ has sidelined the midfielder for more than 15 months.
A severe right patella injury essentially placed the Swedish international’s career on a hiatus, a period that saw him cruelly forced to miss out on the summer World Cup. He has been on a lengthy rehabilitation process that included a minor setback during his initial return attempt in August. However, there finally appears to be light at the end of the tunnel after Dejan Kulusevski returned to full training this week.
Roberto De Zerbi delivers huge Dejan Kulusevski boost
Kulusevski is finally back in full training with the senior squad, providing a massive psychological lift to a Tottenham side currently searching for their first league win of the season. Roberto De Zerbi has hailed the impending return of the 26-year-old, describing the player as being similar to a “new signing”.
“We have to manage Deki in the best way we can, but this is a great thing for us because he is a good player and a good guy,” De Zerbi said in his pre-match press conference (h/t Football London).
“He deserves to play again, and we have to work day by day, and also for Deki it is important the national break because when he is at top condition and over the injury, he will be like another new signing.”
Although there has been speculation that his first minutes could be with the Swedish national team at the upcoming international break in the coming weeks, it will not be the case after Graham Potter hasn’t included the Tottenham playmaker in his squad for the UEFA Nations League games against Romania and Poland. Not being called upon for national team duty will give Kulusevski the next couple of weeks to further work on his fitness.
The Stockholm-born ace is back in full training, and whilst he is not ready to face Aston Villa on Saturday, a first comeback appearance could be on the horizon in October or November. Indeed, Deki will be like a new signing whenever he comes back after missing the entirety of last season.
