Man United receives a big boost, key player officially returns to training

Manchester United got a positive update on their squad as defender Matthijs de Ligt rejoined team training after several months out with a back injury.

De Ligt back after lengthy absence

Homepage Manchester United confirmed that Matthijs de Ligt took part in the first part of the team's training session in Ireland on August 10. This is seen as a significant step in the recovery of the Dutch defender after a long period away from the pitch due to injury.

De Ligt, along with a group of players, joined Man United's training camp in County Kildare a day earlier. In the latest session, the 26-year-old defender was with the entire squad for the first 15 minutes, before moving on to an individual program to continue his fitness recovery.

Although he was unable to complete the full session with his teammates, De Ligt's reappearance on the training ground with Manchester United is still very welcome news. The Red Devils are entering the final phase of their preparations for the 2026/27 season, and the return of an experienced center-back like De Ligt will give manager Michael Carrick more options for his defense.

A seemingly minor injury kept De Ligt out for nearly the whole season.

De Ligt has not played for the Old Trafford club since the win over Crystal Palace on November 30, 2025. The back issue was initially assessed as not too serious, but the situation later dragged on longer than expected and prevented the Dutch defender from returning for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.

In May 2026, De Ligt had to undergo surgery to finally resolve the injury. The operation was successful but also kept him from joining the Netherlands national team for the 2026 World Cup. Since then, the former Bayern Munich player has mainly been rehabilitating at Carrington before being cleared to take part in part of the group training in Ireland.

Earlier, British media reported that De Ligt's recovery was on track but he was likely not ready to feature in the opening match of the new season. Therefore, Manchester United's coaching staff is expected not to rush the 26-year-old defender.