Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dejan Kulusevski has reflected on his arduous recovery journey following a serious knee injury, sharing an emotional message on social media. The Swedish player made his first appearance in an official match for the London club in 526 days, emphasising that faith and family support were paramount during this challenging time.
Kulusevski opened up about his experiences, which transformed his perspective on life:
What I realised during this period is that God is the most important thing in life. Without Him, I can't do anything, but with Him, I can do everything. From now on, I want to live for Him and not for this world. The second thing is family. If you have these two things in your life, then you have everything. Thank you to everyone who made this evening and this journey special, but understand this: this is not the whole book, just a chapter.
He accompanied his heartfelt post with a touching photo taken on the pitch at Tottenham Stadium, where he is seen with his daughter in a Spurs kit and his wife holding their newborn child.
Kulusevski has been out of football since May 11, 2025, when he sustained a serious injury to his right patellar tendon in a match against Crystal Palace. The road to recovery involved a complex surgical procedure, painful complications, and exhaustive rehabilitation, which saw him miss the 2025 Europa League final and the entire subsequent season.
The player admitted that at times, recovery seemed nearly impossible. A few months before his return, he even warned his closest ones that his knee might not hold up to the demands, yet deep down, he clung to hope for a successful comeback.
In his quest to regain fitness, the Swede trained tirelessly, with some sessions stretching to a staggering 10 hours a day at the club's training base, often alone.
His much-anticipated return came in the 87th minute of the home match against Coventry City (3-1), in which Roberto De Zerbi’s side recorded their first victory of the current Premier League season. The crowd greeted Kulusevski’s entry with thunderous standing ovations. After the final whistle, Dejan expressed that this arduous yet beautiful journey had changed him into a wiser person, even while his passion and obsession for football remain unchanged.
