WOLVERHAMPTON — Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Xavi Simons ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during the club's 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, ruling him out for the remainder of the Premier League season and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Simons left the pitch on a stretcher in the 63rd minute.

Tottenham confirmed the diagnosis in a club statement, which said Simons will undergo surgery in the coming weeks before beginning his rehabilitation with the club's medical team. The club did not provide a timeline for his return.

Simons addressed the injury in an Instagram post. "They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way," he wrote. "My season has come to an abrupt end and I'm just trying to process it."

The injury ends Simons' involvement in the domestic campaign and removes him from contention for the World Cup in 2026. He had been included in Ronald Koeman's Netherlands squad for what would have been his second World Cup, following his debut at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Simons has earned 34 caps for the Netherlands, most recently appearing in friendlies last month. His absence is a blow to Koeman's plans ahead of the tournament, which begins in the summer of 2026.

Tottenham are 18th in the Premier League with 34 points, two points below the position needed to avoid relegation. The club has not commented further on how they plan to manage Simons' absence for the rest of the season.