Tottenham Star Dejan Kulusevski Reveals Near-Retirement Knee Ordeal
Tottenham star Dejan Kulusevski revealed he nearly retired after a 526-day knee injury layoff, rejecting a risky knee transplant before making his emotional return to football.
Tottenham Hotspur and Sweden star Dejan Kulusevski has revealed how close he came to ending his professional career during a gruelling 526-day recovery from a severe knee injury.
The 26-year-old midfielder suffered a ruptured right patellar tendon during Tottenham's 2-0 defeat against Crystal Palace in May 2025, forcing him to undergo multiple surgeries and miss the entire 2025/26 season. Speaking to Swedish media, Kulusevski admitted he seriously contemplated retirement as recovery stalled.
«I spoke with doctors all summer about the possibility of another surgery. It was supposed to be a knee transplant, replacing my knee with someone else's knee», Kulusevski revealed. «Then I said no. I decided that if it hurts when I play, I will just have to play with the pain.»
Faced with a procedure carrying just a 50% success rate and the risk of further setbacks, he opted against the transplant. During the difficult rehabilitation, Kulusevski drew support from Zlatan Ibrahimović and former teammate Ivan Perišić, who directed him to a specialist in Serbia whose confidence proved vital.
Last week, Kulusevski made his long-awaited return, coming off the bench in Tottenham's 3-1 victory over Coventry, followed by appearances against Crystal Palace and Leeds. He has now been named in Sweden's squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Bosnia and Poland, eyeing his first international appearance since November 2024.
