Dejan Kulusevski thought he would 'never play again' amid Tottenham injury hell

Kulusevski has returned to action after 18 months out with a knee injury sustained against Crystal Palace, telling his mother he feared his career was over.

Dejan Kulusevski has made his long-awaited return to action for Tottenham in the 3-1 win over Coventry, ending an 18-month absence caused by a serious knee injury. The Swedish winger suffered a patella problem after a collision with Marc Guehi on the final day of the 2024-25 season against Crystal Palace, an injury that forced him to miss Spurs' Europa League final victory over Manchester United in Bilbao.

During his recovery, Kulusevski spoke to his mother about the possibility of retiring from football, fearing he would never play again. "I told my mother, I sat with her and I told her 'listen, I don't think this is going to work out'. I had to prepare her, I don't think I can play anymore," he said. The injury involved a broken cartilage that became displaced in his knee, a condition that cannot be surgically repaired.

Kulusevski described missing the Europa League final as "one of the hardest days of my life", unable to celebrate with his teammates or collect his winners' medal. His return to the pitch marks a significant milestone in his recovery from one of the most serious injuries of his career.