Vivianne Miedema Facing Extended Layoff After Knee Injury

Manchester City could be without Vivianne Miedema for the rest of 2026 after the Netherlands forward suffered a knee injury. The Guardian reported that there are concerns Miedema may not return until after the Women's Super League winter break, although Manchester City has not announced a firm recovery timetable.

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According to the Guardian, multiple sources said the injury is serious but is not an anterior cruciate ligament injury. City's official statement on Tuesday went no further than saying Miedema would miss the start of the season. That distinction leaves the length of her absence uncertain as the champions prepare to begin their title defence.

Miedema operated predominantly as a No. 10 for Manchester City during their WSL-winning campaign last season. The Guardian reported that the club explored attacking-midfield reinforcements ahead of Thursday's 11 p.m. BST transfer deadline, making inquiries about Paris Saint-Germain's Jennifer Echegini and Everton forward Ornella Vignola. PSG was reported to be unwilling to sell Echegini.

The same report said Arsenal were expected to complete a deal for PSG and France defender Elisa De Almeida, with a fee of just over £500,000 understood to have been agreed. The 28-year-old centre-back has played for PSG since 2021 and was part of France's squads for Euro 2025 and the 2023 World Cup. Arsenal's Katie Reid is not expected to be available before November as her recovery from an ACL injury is managed carefully.

The deadline arrived during another record transfer window for women's football. FIFA's mid-year report, released Thursday, showed that global spending on international women's transfer fees had passed $28 million this summer, more than double the $12.3 million recorded the previous summer. English clubs led the spending at $8 million, ahead of clubs in Spain at $6.6 million and Germany at $4.9 million.

The new WSL season begins Friday with London City Lionesses hosting Manchester United. City's opening period will now proceed without one of their key attacking players, while the available evidence does not establish exactly when Miedema will return. For now, the confirmed position remains that she will miss the start of the campaign, with the longer absence reported by the Guardian rather than formally set out by the club.