Manchester City have announced that midfielder Mateo Kovacic has undergone surgery on an Achilles injury.
The 31-year-old played 42 times across all competitions for the Citizens in the 2024-25 campaign and was a standout performer for Pep Guardiola's side during the second half of the season.
Kovacic chipped in with seven goals and three assists, including back-to-back strikes in Premier League wins over Crystal Palace and Everton in April, helping City secure a top-five finish and Champions League football for next season.
The Croatia international was hoping to represent his country later this month in 2026 World Cup qualifying before taking part in Man City's FIFA Club World Cup campaign in the United States, but the midfielder is now facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
"Manchester City can confirm that Mateo Kovacic has undergone surgery on an Achilles injury," a statement on their official website read. "The Croatian midfielder is now set to miss the FIFA Club World Cup as City head to the USA in June.
"Mateo will spend the summer rehabilitating from the operation and everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery."
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What games will Kovacic miss? When could he return for Man City?
Man City have not confirmed how long Kovacic could be sidelined for, but Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic has stated that the midfielder may be out for up to three months.
"He had an injury and missed the [FA] Cup final. He thought rest would help, but it didn't," Dalic told reporters. "Pain and swelling appeared, concerning the heel tendon. Manchester City decided he must undergo surgery. The recovery is expected to take about three months."
Kovacic will therefore miss Man City's entire Club World Cup campaign, which could conclude on July 13 if they were to progress all the way to the final.
Man City are scheduled to face Wydad AC, Al-Ain and Juventus in three group-stage fixtures and a top-two finish in Group G would see them progress to the round of 16, which begins on June 28.
The midfielder is also expected to miss pre-season with Man City over the summer and could miss the club's opening two or three Premier League fixtures of the 2025-26 season, with a return in early September after three months out seemingly his target.
Meanwhile, the opening round of 2025-26 Premier League fixtures will be played on August 16.
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Who could fill in for Kovacic in Man City's midfield?
Kovacic primarily operated as a deep-lying midfielder for Man City in 2024-25 due to the long-term absence of star lynchpin Rodri, but the Ballon d'Or winner has now recovered from an ACL injury and is hoping to feature regularly at the Club World Cup.
Guardiola has also called upon experienced duo Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva to operate in deeper midfield roles this season and may ask the Citizens pair to links arms again in the middle of the pitch, with or without Rodri by their side.
Matheus Nunes and Nico O'Reilly are two more midfield options, but Guardiola has preferred to use both players as makeshift full-backs and that is unlikely to change at the Club World Cup.
Kevin De Bruyne is leaving upon the expiration of his contract and will not be involved at the Club World Cup as he searches for a new club, but Man City could soon add Serie A Midfielder of the Season Tijjani Reijnders to their ranks before they jet off to America later this month.
It has been reported that the Citizens have reached an agreement with AC Milan to sign Reijnders for around €70m and Guardiola's side are hoping to finalise a deal for the box-to-box Dutchman before the Club World Cup.
Meanwhile, Kalvin Phillips is reportedly facing at least two months on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on an Achilles injury, but he was not expected to link up with Guardiola's squad this summer anyway, as he has been deemed surplus to requirements.
As for academy graduate Jacob Wright, he has officially completed a permanent transfer to Norwich City following a loan spell during the season half of last season, while James McAtee - who is facing an uncertain future at the Etihad - will miss the Club World Cup as he has been called up to England's provisional squad for the Under-21 European Championship.
Oliver Thomas
