Frenkie de Jong suffered a serious knee injury during the FIFA World Cup while representing the Netherlands, resulting in an expected absence of at least four months.
Initial medical examinations indicated a lengthy recovery period, creating substantial challenges for Barcelona’s planning ahead of the 2027/28 season. The club is awaiting De Jong’s return from holiday to conduct final tests and confirm the duration of his absence.
If the injury is officially classified as long-term and the player remains out past December, Barcelona could register him as a long-term injury absence. This would allow for the salary space occupied by De Jong to be used for registering new players in the current transfer window.
The club requires De Jong’s approval to assign this status. They are seeking to reach a final decision next week to clarify their available salary cap space.
Additionally, Barcelona expects to receive a €2 million compensation from FIFA related to the player’s injury. The club also plans to request an explanation regarding why De Jong was played under conditions that led to an injury they consider avoidable.
