SHOCK: Manchester United could lose a key player for the entire season due to injury.

Center-back Matthijs de Ligt is likely unable to play any further matches for Manchester United in the remainder of the season after his prolonged back injury worsened beyond expectations.

The last time De Ligt played for Manchester Unitedwas in the 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace in November 2025, a match in which he had to leave early due to back pain. Notably, the 25-year-old defender had a quite impressive start to the season, playing the full 13 opening matches without missing a minute, but since the injury occurred, he has been absent for 17 consecutive games.

According to journalist Nathan Salt of - a writer specializing in Manchester United coverage for the Daily Mail, the situation for the Dutch defender is not optimistic.

“Clearly his back issue is quite serious… I don’t think he will return to play this season,” Nathan Salt stated.

Initially, Coach Ruben Amorim assured fans that De Ligt’s injury was minor and the player could return after a few weeks. However, the recovery process has extended far longer than expected and there is still no specific timeline for his comeback.

It is noteworthy that De Ligt is famously prone to injuries. According to Transfermarkt, De Ligt has missed up to 84 matches throughout his career due to injuries, equivalent to 483 days of absence, a concerning figure for a player only 26 years old.

If De Ligt indeed has to miss the entire season, this would be a significant loss for Manchester United during a crucial period as the club is competing for a Champions League spot and needs stability in its defensive line.

The difficulties are compounded as Lisandro Martinez – another key center-back – is also sidelined due to a calf injury and will continue to be absent for the match against Aston Villa on March 15.

Both De Ligt and Martinez are defenders expected to form the foundation of Manchester United’s defense. Martinez joined the club from Ajax in 2022 for a fee of £48.3 million plus £8.4 million in add-ons, while De Ligt arrived at Old Trafford from Bayern Munich two years later for £38.4 million with £4.3 million in additional fees.

Although they demonstrate their quality whenever they play, both consistently face physical issues. According to Manchester Evening News, Manchester United’s leadership is now reconsidering their personnel plans for the defensive line as the most anticipated defenders are often forced to miss matches due to injuries.