Tottenham's season has taken another serious turn with Xavi Simons ruled out for the rest of the campaign and 2026 after suffering an ACL injury in the win over Wolves.
Spurs officially confirmed the Dutch playmaker sustained an ACL rupture, with the injury expected to keep him sidelined for many months and ending any hope of a late-season return.
The setback is a major blow for Spurs at a crucial stage of the campaign, with Simons having become one of their most influential attacking players since Roberto De Zerbi's arrival.
His creativity, movement and ability to operate between the lines had made him a key figure in De Zerbi’s system, particularly during a run of fixtures where Tottenham were trying to stabilise their form and pull away from danger.
The 23-year-old's screamer against Brighton in particular was perhaps a sign of things to come, but in a cruel twist of fate, Simons' World Cup hopes are now over, as was expected after the collision with Hugo Bueno happened.
The injury itself came during the match against Wolves, where Simons landed awkwardly in the second half and immediately signalled discomfort before being forced off.
Spurs medical staff bizzarely sprayed his knee and tried to get him to play on, which looks pretty silly now we know that the injury was as serious as an ACL tear.
Early assessments were concerning, but further scans today confirmed the worst fears inside the club.
Tottenham now face the difficult task of reshaping their attacking structure for the final stretch of the season. Simons had been central to much of their creativity, and his absence leaves a clear gap in the squad.
With matches coming thick and fast, De Zerbi will need to adjust both personnel and system to compensate for the loss of one of his most technically gifted players.
De Zerbi expected to hand Maddison lead creative role after Simons blow
According to TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey, the injury is expected to trigger a reshuffle in attacking responsibilities, with James Maddison set to be handed a 'lead' creative role in the team to compensate for Simons.
Indeed, De Zerbi is believed to be preparing to lean heavily on Maddison as the main playmaker for the remainder of the campaign.
The England international, who has been injured since pre-season but could make a return in the final weeks, is now viewed as the natural replacement to step into the central creative role vacated by Simons.
The expectation is that Maddison will be given more freedom to dictate play and take on greater responsibility for chance creation, with Bailey reporting Spurs are hopeful he'll return to play a key part.
The situation also highlights the lack of depth Tottenham now face in advanced midfield areas.
While there are alternative options in the squad, none offer the same blend of vision and final-third influence that Simons provided. As a result, Maddison’s availability could prove crucial in determining how they finish the season.
For Tottenham, the challenge now is not only replacing Simons’ output, but also ensuring the team remains balanced and competitive without him.
The loss of such an important player at this stage of the season is far from ideal, but it does present an opportunity for others to step into leading roles.
Maddison’s return in the coming weeks will be closely watched, as Spurs look to adapt quickly and avoid losing further momentum in the relegation battle.