Matthijs de Ligt nears Manchester United return after injury struggles

The long wait is almost over for Matthijs de Ligt. Nearly a year since a stubborn back injury dragged him out of the spotlight, the Dutch defender is finally closing in on a return that could reshape both Manchester United’s defence and the Netherlands’ plans.

A year lost to pain and patience

It started in November 2025. What first looked like a manageable issue in his back turned into a lingering problem that refused to go away. De Ligt tried the sensible route: six months of conservative treatment, rehab, repetition, and the quiet grind behind closed doors at Carrington.

Nothing worked.

The pain stayed, the minutes on the pitch didn’t return, and the clock kept ticking towards the 2026 World Cup. Eventually, the decision he had hoped to avoid became unavoidable. In May, he went under the knife.

That operation ended any realistic hope of making the World Cup. De Ligt admitted as much himself, speaking openly on social media about the blow. After half a year of pushing to get back without surgery, he wrote, going into the operating theatre was “the only option left.” He was left to watch United and his country from afar, powerless to help.

Back on the grass at Carrington

Now the tone has changed. The defender is back in full training at Carrington and, crucially, progressing. United’s medical staff are optimistic: once the current international break is done, they expect him to be ready for selection.

For a club that has had to juggle absences across the backline, that matters. Michael Carrick, trying to keep United competitive while waiting for key players to return, has been careful not to rush anyone, but he made it clear that De Ligt is edging closer.

Speaking after a 1-1 draw with Fulham, Carrick namechecked his returning players. “Amad [Diallo], hopefully by the time we get back, he will have trained with the group. Matta [De Ligt] is working towards his fitness as well,” he said. Short, sharp, but telling. De Ligt is no longer in the treatment-room shadows; he is in the manager’s thoughts again.

United’s Premier League campaign resumes with a demanding fixture: Tottenham Hotspur on October 10. Carrick has not guaranteed De Ligt will feature, but the fact he is back with the group, building rhythm and sharpness, points towards an appearance that feels less like “if” and more like “when.”

Xavi keeps the Oranje door wide open

The comeback is not just a club story. De Ligt’s name still carries weight in the Netherlands, and under their new manager, it remains firmly underlined.

Xavi, the Barcelona legend now in charge of the Dutch national team, made it clear he is tracking the centre-back’s rehabilitation closely. Speaking ahead of a demanding run of Nations League fixtures against Germany, Serbia, and Greece, he confirmed regular contact with both the player and Manchester United.

“Yes, we’re in touch with him and Manchester United,” the Dutch boss said. “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.”

There was no ambiguity about De Ligt’s place in his plans. “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.”

The message is clear: regain fitness and form at United, and the Oranje shirt will be waiting.

A defender with something to prove

The road back has tested De Ligt in ways that cannot be measured in minutes or matches. Former Ajax captain, big-money signing, defensive leader by reputation – and then, for almost a year, simply injured. Watching. Waiting.

For United, his return is more than just another body in defence. It is a chance to restore authority at the back, to add presence, organisation, and a voice that has been missing. For the player, it is a chance to reclaim his career trajectory, to show that the surgery was not a setback but a turning point.

If he can prove his match fitness in the coming weeks, he walks straight back into the heart of United’s backline. Do that, and the next Netherlands squad suddenly looks very different – with a fully fit De Ligt again at the centre of it.