Dejan Kulusevski: Why Tottenham’s Forward Rejected a Knee Transplant

Dejan Kulusevski’s return to football followed a recovery that left him questioning whether he would play again. The Tottenham forward has now revealed he rejected the possibility of a knee transplant after spending more than 18 months sidelined with a serious knee injury.

The injury came during a defeat to Crystal Palace in May 2025. Kulusevski missed 526 days of playing time, including the entirety of the 2025/26 season, and was also absent at the start of the current campaign. He has since returned in substitute appearances against Coventry City, Crystal Palace and Leeds United.

Speaking to Swedish outlet Fotbollskanalen, Kulusevski said he spent the summer consulting other doctors about another operation. One option, he explained, was replacing his knee with another person’s. He said doctors had warned that the procedure carried a “50/50” chance of setting his recovery back for a long time.

“I said no,” Kulusevski said. “If I’m in pain when I play, I’ll just have to play through the pain.” He described training and trying to live normally, trusting that his recovery would work out. “So far, I’ve been right.”

The physical challenge was only part of the ordeal. Kulusevski said he feared his career might be over and recalled telling his mother that the treatment options might not succeed. He also explained that injuries of this kind can be exceptionally difficult to recover from, with some people never making it back.

He credited a doctor in Serbia, recommended by former teammates Zlatan Ibrahimović and Ivan Perišić, with giving him confidence. “I needed someone by my side who would say to me: ‘Dejan, this is going to be fine,’” he said.

Kulusevski also spoke candidly about feeling let down during his time out. He said some people, including at Tottenham, were sceptical about his recovery and that he had been disappointed by the support he received. At the same time, he said he had to forgive, adding that he understood football was a business.

Now back on the pitch, the 26-year-old has been selected for Sweden’s Nations League matches. The Independent reported that an appearance against Bosnia and Herzegovina or Poland would be his first international outing in two years. For Kulusevski, the return is more than a comeback from a long absence: it follows a decision to reject a drastic option and keep believing he could play again.