Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu will miss the rest of the 2024-25 season with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, manager Steve Cooper has confirmed.
Fatawu returned to Leicester early from international duty after being forced off in the first half of Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola on Friday and subsequently missing Monday’s defeat to Niger.
The 20-year-old has made 13 appearances in all competitions this season, providing three assists, and has started Leicester’s last three matches in the Premier League after helping spark October’s 3-2 comeback victory over Southampton with his 30-minute appearance from the bench.
“An ACL injury rules him out for the rest of the season,” Cooper confirmed on Thursday. “It is a serious injury and to happen at a young age is a blow for him and us. We now have to support him in every way to make his rehab and return as smooth as possible. Hopefully he comes back a stronger player and person.”
“Initially everyone will be upset when you lose a good player but at the same time we have to respond, role our sleeves up and respond.”
Fatawu played an important role during Leicester’s 2023-24 promotion-winning campaign, contributing seven goals and 13 assists as the club topped the Championship.
Forward Jordan Ayew also withdrew from the Ghana squad after sustaining an injury against Angola, with the Ghana Football Association saying MRI scans showed “significant issues” with his knee, but Cooper has played down the significance of the issue.
“Jordan has come back injured as well, but it is not as a serious injury as reported in Ghana and hope is he may be available for the weekend,” said Cooper.
Leicester are already without defender Ricardo Pereira, who has been ruled out for four months with a hamstring injury. Jamie Vardy missed November’s defeat to Manchester United with a back problem, while Facundo Buonanotte is suspended for Saturday’s visit of Chelsea after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against United.
(Michael Regan/Getty Images)
