Matthijs de Ligt nears return for Manchester United

Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt is nearing a return to competitive action following a long-term back injury. After being sidelined since November 2025 and undergoing surgery in May, the Dutch international recently featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Lausanne-Sport.

His potential return comes at a critical time for manager Michael Carrick, as the club faces a dense fixture schedule including six matches in 21 days and UEFA Champions League travel to Italy and Spain. De Ligt, who was a standout performer in the early stages of the 2025-26 season, is expected to provide much-needed depth and competition for the starting centre-back roles currently held by Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez.

Reports suggest that if De Ligt remains fit following his recent training involvement, he could be included in the squad for the upcoming match against Tottenham Hotspur.