James Maddison, the England international midfielder, suffered a significant knee injury during Tottenham’s pre-season tour of Asia. The incident occurred during a match against Newcastle in Seoul on Sunday. Maddison was carried off on a stretcher after going down unchallenged late in the game, clearly in pain.
The 28-year-old player had previously missed the closing stages of last season due to a knee problem. This latest injury affects the same joint.
Thomas Frank, Spurs manager, said:
“I think sometimes in life and football things can be both beautiful and brutal – that’s what we got today."
Emotional send-off for departing Son Heung-min
Despite the unfortunate incident with Maddison, the friendly match ended 1-1 and was marked by an emotional farewell for Son Heung-min from his home city fans. The South Korean international confirmed earlier this week that he would be leaving Spurs after spending ten years at the club.
Son wore the captain's armband during his final game and received a standing ovation along with a guard of honour from players of both teams when he was substituted out at minute 64.
Son Heung-min, Tottenham captain, said:
“It was a perfect moment. Sharing these beautiful moments are something that I will never forget and I will always appreciate it – from the fans, the players and the gaffer. He understood my situation and was always on my side. He always listened to me and asked what I wanted to do. I have a huge respect and am very grateful. I wish them all the best. There are five competitions ahead and I hope they win all the five competitions. That’s my wish.
“Spurs will always be in my heart and the boys will always be in my history books. It was incredible. They’ve gone so fast, the 10 years. I can only think about the beautiful moments, amazing moments.”
The forward expressed gratitude towards Frank for understanding his decision to seek new challenges elsewhere. During his tenure at Spurs, Son scored an impressive total of 173 goals across 454 competitive appearances.
João Palhinha joins Tottenham
In other news related to Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, they announced signing Portuguese midfielder João Palhinha on loan from Bayern Munich. The move is subject to international clearance and obtaining work permits; however, there is an option for making it permanent next summer.
Palhinha returns to Premier League action after spending two seasons with Fulham before joining Bayern Munich back in July 2024. During his time at Bayern, he helped the team secure the Bundesliga title last season and contributed to Portugal's success in the Nations League.
While Maddison's injury is a significant blow for Tottenham, they have shown resilience by signing new talent. The emotional farewell of Son Heung-min marks an end of an era for Spurs, but with players like Palhinha joining their ranks, they are ready to face future challenges head-on.
