Barcelona have confirmed that young midfielder, Gavi, will not return to action until 2026 after undergoing surgery on his right knee.
Naija News reports that the 21-year-old played in the Catalan club’s opening two matches of the season before suffering an injury in training last month.
Initial fears were that Gavi had torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) again — the same injury he sustained in November 2023 while on international duty with Spain, which sidelined him for almost a year.
However, medical tests ruled out another ACL tear but revealed cartilage damage that required surgery.
In a statement, Barcelona said:
“Gavi has had an arthroscopy to resolve a medial meniscus injury, which was sutured to preserve the meniscus. Recovery time is estimated at around 4-5 months.”
This means Gavi is unlikely to feature again in 2025, with his return now pushed into 2026.
The midfielder’s absence is a major setback for Barcelona as they continue to chase rivals Real Madrid in the La Liga title race.
Since making his debut in 2021, Gavi has become a key figure in the team, making 155 appearances, scoring 10 goals, and winning five trophies.
Currently, Barcelona sit second on the La Liga table, five points behind Real Madrid with a game in hand. The loss of Gavi has added more pressure on Hansi Flick’s men in their title pursuit.
