Amadou Onana ruled out for nine months after knee surgery

Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana is expected to miss the next nine months after suffering a serious knee injury while representing Belgium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 24-year-old sustained the injury during Belgium’s 4-1 victory over the United States in the Round of 16 and has since undergone surgery for a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

According to reports relayed by AFP, the midfielder successfully underwent the operation in Lyon on Tuesday, with both Aston Villa and the Belgian national team now facing a lengthy period without one of their key midfielders.

The injury occurred on 7 July during the World Cup knockout match in Seattle.

Onana was forced to leave the pitch after just 21 minutes following the knee injury and was replaced by Hans Vanaken as Belgium went on to secure victory and progress to the next stage of the competition.

Medical examinations later confirmed the severity of the damage, ruling the midfielder out for approximately nine months.

The diagnosis represents a significant setback for both club and country, with the recovery period expected to keep him sidelined for a large part of the upcoming season.

Onana has become an important figure for both Aston Villa and Belgium in recent years, establishing himself as a regular presence in midfield through his physicality and defensive qualities.

His absence will leave a considerable gap as Aston Villa prepare for the new campaign while Belgium continue planning for future international fixtures.

The Belgian international has earned 33 senior caps for his country and has scored one goal since making his debut.

His injury came during one of Belgium’s most convincing performances of the tournament, but the victory over the United States was overshadowed by the loss of one of the team’s key players.

The midfielder’s departure in the early stages of the match immediately raised concerns, which were later confirmed following medical assessments.

After undergoing surgery, Onana will now begin a lengthy rehabilitation programme aimed at returning him to full fitness.

Recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury typically requires several months, and the Belgian will now focus on completing each stage of his rehabilitation before returning to competitive football.

For Aston Villa, the injury represents a major challenge ahead of the new season as the club prepares to cope without one of its established midfielders.

Belgium will also have to adjust in the coming months as Onana continues his recovery from one of the most serious injuries a footballer can sustain.

While his immediate focus will be on rehabilitation, both club and country will hope the midfielder can make a full recovery and return to action once his rehabilitation is complete.