Alexis Saelemaekers faces another long spell on the sidelines after a fresh injury to his right ankle, with the AC Milan winger now at risk of missing the rest of 2026.
The Belgian international suffered the setback in training. Medical checks found that the ankle had become unstable around the area operated on previously, leaving Milan to consider a further surgical procedure.
Quick facts
- Saelemaekers has sustained a new right-ankle injury in training.
- AC Milan say instability has been detected near his previous surgical site.
- A specialist assessment is under way to determine the treatment plan.
- He is expected to undergo another operation and could be absent until 2027.
- The 26-year-old was not selected by new Belgium coach Mark Van Bommel for the Nations League.
Milan confirmed on Monday that examinations had identified reduced stability following the recent trauma. The club said specialists were assessing the most suitable therapeutic route.
It is a painful recurrence for Saelemaekers, who underwent surgery in 2024 after fracturing the medial malleolus in the same ankle. The latest prognosis points towards a new operation, with no return expected before the end of the year.
Saelemaekers had been a regular in Serie A last season, making 35 appearances and starting 33 of them. He scored three league goals during that campaign.
This term had begun more slowly, with only two starts across Milan’s first five league matches. Now the immediate concern is recovery, with the Belgian’s season potentially set to disappear into another long rehabilitation.
