Donny van de Beek suffers serious injury for Girona in Bilbao clash

Donny van de Beek suffered what appeared to be a serious injury during Girona's 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday evening, adding another chapter to a career blighted by injuries.

The 27-year-old Dutch midfielder, who joined Girona last summer after a lengthy spell out of the Manchester United first team, was making his first start in five months when he went down in the 33rd minute and needed assistance from Girona's medical staff to leave the pitch.

Van de Beek’s career has been a long ascent and decline since leaving Ajax for Manchester United in 2020 for close to £40 million. He scored on his United debut against Crystal Palace but started only four Premier League games in his first season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and struggled to cement a regular place thereafter. A loan spell at Everton was interrupted by injuries, and his United career never recovered under either Solskjaer or Erik ten Hag. A serious knee injury suffered against Bournemouth in the 2022-23 season effectively ended his United tenure, and he made just two appearances the following campaign before a move to Eintracht Frankfurt on loan. He eventually signed permanently for Girona last summer for an initial fee reported at about £420,600, a far cry from the price tag that brought him to United four years earlier. In Catalonia he appeared 35 times in all competitions last season, but an injury at the end of the campaign ended his campaign prematurely. He returned to the squad just over a week ago after undergoing surgery and had been used as a substitute against Celta Vigo before his start against Bilbao.

Yesterday, Van de Beek started for Girona, his first appearance from the outset in roughly five months. The match proved to be a difficult one for the Basque side as Girona, who competed in the Champions League this season, were seeking their first league win of the campaign. It was in the 33rd minute that the midfielder clutched the back of his ankle after a collision off the ball and was withdrawn with help from the club’s fitness staff. The severity of the issue was not immediately clear, but Girona coach Michael Sánchez cautioned after the match that “it looks bad” and that the club would need to conduct tests to determine the extent of the problem. Mundo Deportivo, citing sources, reported that Van de Beek has suffered a serious Achilles injury and suggested it could be the worst news of the night for the club. Girona managed to salvage a 1-1 draw.

The latest setback adds another grim chapter to Van de Beek’s career since leaving Ajax for Manchester United in 2020. After a bright start in which he scored on his debut against Crystal Palace, he never established himself as a regular at Old Trafford. A knee injury against Bournemouth in 2022-23 effectively ended his time there, and subsequent seasons were hampered by injuries as he sought to rebuild his career first on loan at Everton, then with Eintracht Frankfurt before moving to Girona. The attacking midfielder’s return to fitness last week had raised hopes that he might rediscover his best form in Spain, but the injury on Tuesday night leaves his timeline uncertain and Girona waiting for the results of the medical tests to map out a plan for rehabilitation.

Girona head coach Sánchez insisted the club would await the formal assessments to determine the severity and expected recovery period. The manager’s remarks, echoed by local outlets, underscored the uncertain prognosis, with the club facing a long road ahead as they try to maintain momentum in a season where they have already battled to pick up wins. Van de Beek’s teammates offered support on the bench as the game unfolded, and the club will now turn its attention to the medical updates and the impact on their squad rotation as they continue their campaign in La Liga and European competition in the current season.

The injury comes at a delicate time for Van de Beek, who had been attempting to rebuild momentum after his prolonged absence and the challenges of previous seasons. While the exact length of any potential layoff remains to be seen, the development will be closely watched by a variety of clubs and fans who once viewed him as one of Europe’s most exciting talents. His agent and representatives are expected to provide updates as the medical tests are completed, and Girona’s medical team will outline the rehabilitation plan moving forward, with hopes high for a swift but careful return to action.