Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison was carried off on a stretcher after suffering a worrying knee injury during a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United in South Korea.
Maddison had just entered the match in the 75th minute when he went down clutching his right knee eight minutes later following light contact from Newcastle’s Anthony Elanga. The 28-year-old immediately signalled distress, collapsing to the turf and prompting immediate concern from teammates and opponents.
Tottenham’s medical team rushed onto the pitch as Maddison lay in visible pain. A stretcher was brought on after a lengthy delay, with the midfielder replaced by Yang Min-hyeok.
HEARTBREAK for James Maddison, who is forced off the pitch on a stretcher after just returning from injury for Spurs 🤕
Get well soon James ❤️ pic.twitter.com/r1JcVcKtSn
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 3, 2025
Manager Thomas Frank admitted in his post-match press conference that the injury “looks like a bad one”, though the full extent will only be known after scans. There are fears the injury may involve the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which would potentially sideline Maddison for several months.
The timing is a major blow for Spurs with the Premier League season just under two weeks away. Maddison endured an injury-hit 2024–25 campaign, missing key stretches due to ankle and knee problems, including the Europa League final which Tottenham won.
Son Heung-min, who could be playing his final game for the club, was visibly shaken by the incident, with several players showing concern on the pitch.
Maddison’s condition will now be closely monitored in the coming days as Spurs await the outcome of his medical assessment.
Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
