Feyenoord defender Tijme Wessels knee surgery at Erasmus MC, Digi Mart USA News (Rotterdam, Netherlands): Feyenoord defender Tijme Wessels has suffered a significant setback. The 19-year-old was operated on this week at Erasmus MC in Rotterdam.
Wessels shared a photo from his hospital bed on Instagram, showing his knee heavily bandaged. He captioned the image “The only way is up.” The reason for the surgery and the specifics of his condition have not been disclosed.
His absence was already noticeable earlier this week. He was left out of the squad for the Youth League match against Inter on Wednesday and was not in the first-team matchday squad for Feyenoord’s Champions League game against the Italian side.
Dani Slory took his place in the squad selected by coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Days earlier, on Saturday, October 31, Wessels was on the bench for the Eredivisie match against Fortuna Sittard, which ended 1-1. Feyenoord does not comment on player injuries due to privacy rules, so how long the defender will be out remains unclear.
Given the nature of the knee procedure, a potentially extended absence is being considered, though nothing has been confirmed.
The timing is unfortunate for Wessels, who had been making important progress this season. During preseason, the young defender impressed with the first team and earned a place in Van Bronckhorst’s senior squad.
Wessels made his official first-team debut in Feyenoord’s first league match of the season, away at Sparta Rotterdam, coming on about twenty minutes from time. Shortly afterward, he extended his expiring contract, tying him to the club until mid-2029.
Since his debut against Sparta, Wessels has been in the matchday squad ten more times, but has not made a second Eredivisie appearance. Van Bronckhorst currently prefers Mika Mármol or Javi López at left-back.
As a result, Wessels has mainly played for the club’s youth teams.
This season, Wessels has five official appearances: two for Feyenoord Under 21, two in the Youth League, and one substitute appearance in the Eredivisie.
