AC Milan winger Alexis Saelemaekers faces surgery and sideline until 2027 after ankle injury
Diagnostic tests confirmed the Belgian midfielder suffered joint instability at the site of his 2024 surgery during a training session at Milanello, leaving Ruben Amorim short of options on the left flank.
Medical evaluation at Milanello
AC Milan announced on 5 October 2026 that Belgian winger Alexis Saelemaekers underwent additional medical evaluations on his right ankle over the weekend following an injury sustained during a training session. Specialist examinations determined that the joint lost stability at the exact site of a surgical procedure performed in 2024 to treat a fracture of the medial malleolus. Club medical staff are conducting a specialist assessment to determine the appropriate therapeutic plan for the player. The Italian club confirmed the development through an official medical bulletin.
Alexis Saelemaekers underwent further tests on his right ankle, the same one operated on in 2024 to treat a fracture of the medial malleolus. The specialist examinations showed that the ankle, following the recent training trauma, has lost stability at the site of the previous surgery. In light of the test results, a specialist evaluation is currently underway to define the most appropriate therapeutic path.
Projected recovery and surgical outlook
Italian and Belgian media, including La Gazzetta dello Sport and RTBF, report that the former Anderlecht player is set to undergo a second surgery on the right ankle. The subsequent rehabilitation process is expected to require several months of recovery, keeping the Belgian international off the pitch for the remainder of 2026. If the surgical route is confirmed by medical specialists, Saelemaekers will not return to competitive action until 2027.
- Undergoes surgery to treat a medial malleolus fracture in his right ankle
- Features in the Belgium World Cup squad managed by Rudi Garcia
- Omitted by new Belgium coach Mark van Bommel for Nations League fixtures
- AC Milan confirms loss of ankle stability following a training trauma
Shift in squad role under Amorim
The physical setback follows a change in the player's role within the squad at San Siro. Under former manager Massimiliano Allegri last season, Saelemaekers was a regular starter, recording 35 league appearances (33 of them in the starting eleven) and scoring three Serie A goals. Since the appointment of Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim, his playing time has diminished, starting only two of the opening five league matches without scoring. On the international stage, after featuring in Belgium's World Cup squad under Rudi Garcia during the summer, he was left out of the national team selection by new manager Mark van Bommel for the four-match Nations League series.
Fixture congestion and squad depth
Milan currently occupies fifth place in Serie A with 11 points after five rounds, two points behind the leading trio of Roma, Inter, and Lazio. The squad faces a demanding schedule beginning with Sunday's league fixture against Sassuolo, the first of nine matches across Serie A and the Europa League scheduled in under a month. Amorim has been preparing at Milanello with 11 first-team players while 15 squad members are away on international duty, including young players Bartesaghi, Cisse, Camarda, and Vladimirov. With both Saelemaekers and Pervis Estupinan sidelined by physical problems, the left flank is depleted, positioning Diego Moreira and Cisse as potential alternatives while Christian Pulisic remains in training at the facility.
