Juventus confirm successful Kenan Yildiz surgery after foot fracture

Juventus have confirmed that Kenan Yildiz has undergone successful surgery on a fracture at the base of the fifth metatarsal in his left foot, leaving Luciano Spalletti without one of his most important attacking players for a significant part of the autumn.

The Turkey international underwent an osteosynthesis procedure on Monday at the Hessingpark Klinik in Augsburg.

Juventus said the operation was carried out by Dr Martin Jordan in the presence of club doctor Dr Marco Freschi and was completed successfully.

Yildiz will begin his rehabilitation programme on Tuesday. The club did not provide an official recovery timeframe.

Sky Sport Italia reports that the 22-year-old is expected to be sidelined for approximately three months, with a possible return after the November international break. ANSA has also reported a similar three-month absence.

The injury represents a substantial early-season setback for Juventus.

Yildiz suffered the problem during the 1-0 Serie A victory over Frosinone on the opening weekend and subsequently missed the 2-0 win against Parma.

Juventus have still started the league season with six points from six, but Spalletti now faces the prospect of navigating an extended period without the player who has increasingly become the creative reference point of his attack.

Yildiz’s importance extends beyond his goal contribution.

Operating from attacking midfield and the inside-left channel, he gives Juventus a player capable of receiving between defensive lines, carrying possession through pressure and creating separation individually when structured possession fails to open the opponent.

That profile is difficult to replace directly.

Spalletti can redistribute attacking responsibility across the squad, but losing Yildiz removes one of Juventus’ most natural connections between midfield construction and the final third.

The timing also increases the significance of the injury.

A three-month absence, if Sky’s recovery estimate proves accurate, would take Yildiz through a substantial section of the domestic and European calendar before potentially making him available again after the November international window.

Juventus will therefore need to manage the rehabilitation cautiously.

Fifth-metatarsal injuries can require particular care because the objective is not simply to restore pain-free movement but to ensure the player can tolerate repeated high-intensity actions before returning to competition.

The club’s medical statement deliberately avoided setting a comeback date.

For now, the only official milestone is the beginning of rehabilitation.

Yildiz is not the only Juventus attacker facing time out.

The club also confirmed that Jeff Ekhator suffered a moderate-grade injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his right thigh during training.

He will undergo further examinations in two weeks before Juventus establish a more precise recovery schedule.

Sky estimates Ekhator’s absence at around 30 to 40 days, although Juventus themselves have not yet committed to that timeline.

The double setback leaves Spalletti with an immediate attacking depth problem, but Yildiz’s absence is clearly the more consequential of the two.

Juventus can replace a position.

Replacing the functions Yildiz performs inside the position will be considerably harder.

The surgery has at least removed one uncertainty.

The fracture has been stabilised successfully and rehabilitation begins immediately.

The next question — and the one that will shape a significant portion of Juventus’ autumn — is how quickly their No.10 can progress from recovery work back to full competitive intensity.