Matthijs de Ligt Returns to Manchester United Squad After More Than 10 Months Out

Matthijs de Ligt has returned to the Manchester United squad after being sidelined for more than ten months with a persistent back injury.

The 27-year-old defender travelled to Madrid with Manchester United manager Michael Carrick and the rest of the squad ahead of their Champions League match against Atlético Madrid on Tuesday evening.

Speaking at a press conference in Madrid, Carrick expressed confidence in De Ligt’s recovery and his ability to return to action.

“I definitely feel good about letting him play,” Carrick told reporters.

However, the manager said the club would carefully manage the defender’s return and decide how many minutes he could play.

“Of course, the question also plays out when that moment is and how much he could play. He played a little in the friendly match against Lausanne and he has already trained quite a bit, but of course we look at it step by step,” says Carrick.

Carrick stressed that Manchester United would avoid rushing the defender back into action after his lengthy absence.

“So it’s not too much, not too fast. I have absolute confidence in him, there’s no doubt about that.”

De Ligt last played for Manchester United on November 30, 2025, in a league match against Crystal Palace.

The defender has also been absent from the Netherlands national team. His last international appearance came on November 17, 2025, when the Dutch faced Lithuania in a World Cup qualifier.

His return to the Manchester United squad marks a significant step in his recovery, although it remains to be seen when he will return to regular competitive action.

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