De Jong edges closer to Barcelona return after knee injury kept him out all season

Frenkie de Jong is working towards rejoining Barcelona’s first-team training group after the international break, with a possible return to competitive action pencilled in for November — though no firm date has been set by the club.

The Dutch midfielder has missed every minute of Barcelona’s season so far after sustaining a knee injury while representing the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup. He has yet to feature for Hansi Flick’s side, and his absence has forced the club to plan their midfield around his unavailability from the very start of the campaign.

De Jong posted a series of images on social media showing him working through his rehabilitation at the Ciutat Esportiva, offering a glimpse of his recovery but no indication that a return is imminent. Barca Blaugranes report that Barcelona hope he can step up to full training once the international break concludes — a significant checkpoint, but not confirmation that he will be available for selection.

Returning to training alongside his team-mates would represent the next meaningful stage in his recovery. How he responds to that environment will determine when the club feels confident enough to consider him for a matchday squad. The step from individual rehabilitation work to group sessions, and then to competitive readiness, involves its own timeline.

Barca Blaugranes report that current projections point to a potential return to action in November, with a La Liga fixture against Alaves identified as one possible scenario if his recovery continues without setbacks. That remains an estimate rather than a confirmed schedule from Barcelona.

For Flick, the prospect of having De Jong available would open up options in a midfield that has had to function without one of its most technically accomplished players. His return to training will not immediately resolve the question of when he plays, but it would bring the club closer to an answer.