Matthijs de Ligt Nears Manchester United Return After Injury Turmoil
The wait is almost over for Matthijs de Ligt. After nearly a year on the sidelines and a back injury that refused to let go, Manchester United’s Dutch centre-back is finally closing in on a return to competitive football.
A stubborn problem in his back first sidelined him in November 2025. What followed was six draining months of conservative treatment, false dawns and mounting frustration. Every scan, every gym session, every adaptation of his rehab plan pointed to the same conclusion: rest and treatment alone were not enough.
In May, the defender made the call no player wants to make. Surgery. That decision ended any lingering hope of playing at the 2026 World Cup and drew a hard line under a season that had already slipped away.
De Ligt didn’t hide how much it hurt. On social media, he admitted that after half a year of relentless work, going under the knife was “the only option left,” and he lamented not being able to help United or represent his country on the biggest stage. For a former Ajax captain who has grown up with tournaments as milestones, it was a brutal blow.
Now the picture looks very different.
Back on the grass at Carrington, De Ligt is training again and, crucially, progressing. United’s medical team are encouraged enough to believe he will be available for selection once the current international break ends. The timing could hardly be better for a squad that has been stretched in key areas.
Michael Carrick, juggling injuries across his first-team group, knows exactly what De Ligt’s return would mean. After the recent 1-1 draw with Fulham, he spoke of several players edging back towards contention, name-checking both Amad Diallo and “Matta” De Ligt as they work towards full fitness. The message was clear: reinforcements are coming.
United restart their Premier League campaign with a high-stakes clash against Tottenham Hotspur on October 10. Carrick has stopped short of promising De Ligt will feature against Spurs, but the defender’s reintroduction to full team training suggests his comeback is no longer a distant prospect. If he can prove his sharpness in the next phase of sessions, a return to the matchday squad feels close.
The impact of that would be felt far beyond Old Trafford.
De Ligt remains a central figure in the Netherlands’ long-term plans under their new manager, Xavi. The Barcelona legend, now charged with guiding the Oranje through a demanding run of Nations League fixtures against Germany, Serbia and Greece, has been keeping a close eye on developments in Manchester.
“Yes, we’re in touch with him and Manchester United,” Xavi said as he assessed his options. “He’s been through a tough time. I’ve also been in touch with Frenkie de Jong and Xavi Simons recently. We need all our players, especially these guys.”
The respect for De Ligt’s status within the national setup came through again as Xavi underlined his importance: “He’s doing well. We are checking how are they. We want to check because we need all the players. In this case, De Ligt is an important player. He could be important in the future.”
That future hinges on what happens over the next few weeks.
If De Ligt can translate his training progress into match fitness, United’s back line gains an instant upgrade: leadership, aerial dominance, and the calm distribution that first turned him into one of Europe’s most coveted defenders. For the Netherlands, a smooth domestic return would do more than just restore a name to a squad list. It would give Xavi a cornerstone to build around as the Oranje look beyond the immediate Nations League grind and towards the next cycle of major tournaments.
After a year defined by pain, patience and missed opportunities, the next time De Ligt pulls on a United shirt, it won’t just be another appearance. It will be the start of his second act.
