James Maddison, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during Son Heung-min’s final match for Tottenham Hotspur last year—a friendly against Newcastle United—has finally made his return to the pitch.
Maddison stepped onto the field in the 40th minute of the second half as a substitute for Mathys Tel during Tottenham’s 2025-2026 Premier League Round 36 home match against Leeds United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 12 (Korean time).
It marked his first appearance in nine months since sustaining the injury in a preseason friendly against Newcastle at Seoul World Cup Stadium last August. The length of Maddison’s absence was underscored by the fact that Tottenham went through two managerial changes during his recovery without him playing a single match.
Despite the tense 1-1 scoreline, home fans rose to applaud Maddison as he entered the game.
Maddison had been named in the matchday squad for Tottenham’s previous game against Brighton & Hove Albion, but did not feature in that match or the following three fixtures. Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi reportedly chose the Leeds match as an appropriate opportunity to assess Maddison’s current fitness level and introduced him as a substitute.
The player also drew significant media attention after the match.
“It was a tough year mentally. I had many difficult days after surgery,” Maddison said in a post-match interview.
As Tottenham’s vice-captain, he admitted frustration at watching the team struggle from the sidelines. Spurs have endured a turbulent season, slipping into a fierce relegation battle late in the campaign after a poor start.
“It’s been a tough season for the fans and for the players. The manager changed several times. It’s a season I really want to forget. It was hard not being able to help the team—I couldn’t have any impact,” Maddison said.
He added, “Sometimes you have to deal with it alone. The worst days are the hardest. It was also tough when the team was winning in the Champions League, and I wasn’t part of it.”
Despite the hardship, Maddison expressed pride in his recovery. “There were many difficult moments, but I’m proud of how hard I worked to return to the Premier League. Now I’ve reached the end of the tunnel. Going through that process has made me mentally stronger, and I can look back on that time as a good memory,” he said.
With remaining matches against Chelsea and Everton, Tottenham must fend off West Ham United’s chase to secure their Premier League survival. Maddison’s return is a major boost for the side. While he may not immediately regain his best form, his presence should provide valuable strength for the crucial final games.
