manchester City have confirmed that forward Vivianne Miedema will miss the start of the 2026/27 Women’s Super league season after sustaining a knee injury in training. The club said the problem is separate from the earlier knee injuries she has experienced and provided no timescale for her return.
- Manchester City confirmed Miedema picked up a knee injury in training and will miss the start of the 2026/27 WSL season.
- The club said the issue is separate from previous knee injuries; the BBC reported it is not an ACL injury.
- Miedema had 19 goal contributions in 25 appearances in 2025/26 and was central to City’s title win; her absence affects the team’s early-season attacking options.
What the club has said
In a club statement published on 1 September 2026, Manchester City confirmed Miedema picked up a knee injury in training and will be unavailable for the start of the league campaign. The statement added the issue is distinct from her previous knee problems and that she is working with the club’s medical staff to return to action “as soon as possible.” City did not provide a specific recovery timetable.
Independent reporting and context
The BBC reported the same development, noting that the 30-year-old Netherlands international will miss the beginning of the WSL season but that the injury is not an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The BBC also recorded Miedema’s goals contributions from last season: 10 league goals and five assists in the WSL as City secured the title, and 19 goal contributions in 25 appearances across all competitions in 2025/26.
Why this matters for Manchester City
Miedema was Manchester City’s leading attacking figure in 2025/26 and played a central role in the club’s WSL title win. Her absence at the start of the season reduces Pep Guardiola’s women’s team’s immediate options up front and places more responsibility on the wider attacking group — including established squad members and any summer arrivals — to replicate her goal and assist output while she recovers.
Fixture and squad implications
City begin their season at home to newly promoted Birmingham City on Sunday (kick-off 14:30 BST), a match they will now approach without one of their principal attacking threats. The squad will likely need to rotate forward roles and adapt tactical plans for the opening fixtures; Manchester City’s official comment confirming Miedema’s unavailability for the start of the campaign is the clearest indication of immediate selection impact.
Medical background and previous knee problems
Both the club statement and reporting note that this knee issue is separate from Miedema’s previous knee injuries. The BBC specifically stated the new problem is not an ACL injury. Miedema did undergo knee surgery at the end of the 2025/26 season but had a largely injury-free campaign during that title-winning year.
What comes next
- Manchester City will manage Miedema’s recovery through their medical team and provide updates when appropriate; no public timetable has been released.
- The club’s early-season matchday squads and tactical plans will indicate immediate adjustments while she is unavailable.
- Monitoring official club communications is the most reliable way to track any change to her status; independent outlets have repeated the club’s core details and the BBC added that the injury is not an ACL lesion.
Timeline of relevant items
- End of 2025/26 season: Miedema underwent knee surgery, though she completed a strong campaign with 19 goal contributions in 25 appearances across all competitions (reported by the club and the BBC).
- 1 September 2026: Manchester City published an update confirming Miedema sustained a knee injury in training and will miss the start of the 2026/27 WSL season.
- 1 September 2026: The BBC reported the club announcement and added that the injury is not an ACL injury and reiterated last season’s statistics.
How fans and reporters should treat further claims
At present the club is the primary source for medical and availability information on Miedema. The BBC has provided corroborating reporting that narrows the nature of the injury by saying it is not an ACL injury. Until Manchester City or their medical staff release a recovery timetable or further medical details, any suggested return dates, surgery details or forecasts of season-long impact should be treated as speculative.
Key takeaway
Vivianne Miedema will not be available for Manchester City at the start of the 2026/27 WSL season after sustaining a knee injury in training. The club describes the issue as separate from her prior knee problems and has given no timescale for her return; the BBC has reported the injury is not an ACL injury. Supporters should expect the club to issue further updates as medical assessment and rehabilitation progress.