Netherlands star Xavi Simons out of World Cup and Tottenham's relegation fight because of ACL injury

Netherlands midfielder Xavi Simons will miss the World Cup as well as relegation-threatened Tottenham 's final Premier League games of the season after rupturing the ACL in his right knee.

In an emotional post on Instagram, the 23-year-old Simons — one of the best Dutch players at the European Championship in 2024 — said he is “heartbroken” and that “none of it makes sense.”

Simons screamed in pain and grabbed his knee following a challenge by Wolverhampton defender Hugo Bueno in the second half of Tottenham's 1-0 win on Saturday that renewed the team's hopes of staying in the top flight. He was carried off on a stretcher.

On Monday, Tottenham confirmed Simons ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and will undergo surgery “in the coming weeks.”

“Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur sends Xavi our love and support — we will be with him every step of the way,” the club said.

In his Instagram post, Simons wrote “my season has come to an abrupt end and I’m just trying to process it.”

“All I’ve wanted to do is fight for my team and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me … along with the World Cup,” he wrote. “Representing my country this summer … just gone.

“It’ll take time to find peace with this, but I’ll continue to be the best teammate I can be. I have no doubt that together we’ll win this fight.”

Tottenham remained in the relegation zone, in third-to-last place and two points from safety, despite its first league win in 2026, and is in big danger of losing its top-flight status for the first time since the late 1970s. Tottenham has four games left this season.

Simons, who joined from Leipzig for 60 million euros ($70 million) in the offseason, hasn't been a regular starter for Spurs but has been in the lineup in recent matches under newly hired manager Roberto De Zerbi.

He helped the Dutch reach the semifinals at Euro 2024 and was expected to be key for the team at the World Cup, where they're in a group with Sweden, Tunisia and Japan

Their first match is against Japan on June 14.

“I’ll walk this path now, guided by faith, with strength, with resilience, with belief, as I count down the days to getting back out there,” Simons wrote. “Be patient with me.”

Simons joins France striker Hugo Ekitike (Achilles) in being ruled out of the World Cup after sustaining a late-season injury.

There are also concerns over the fitness of Spain winger Lamine Yamal, Egypt star Mohamed Salah and Brazil forward Estevao ahead of the tournament.

Yamal was ruled out for the rest of the club season last week after sustaining a muscle injury in his left leg while converting a penalty for Barcelona in a La Liga match. Barca said its medical staff “foresee that (Yamal) will be available for the World Cup.”

Salah picked up a suspected hamstring injury playing for Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday. Liverpool manager Arne Slot said he did not know if Salah would play again this season.

Estevao will miss the rest of Chelsea's season with a hamstring injury and is a doubt for the World Cup.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Tottenham Hotspur's Xavi Simons celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during their English Premier League soccer match against Brighton & Hove Albion in London, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)

Tottenham Hotspur's Xavi Simons is stretchered off the pitch during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur in Wolverhampton, England, Saturday April 25, 2026. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)

Tottenham Hotspur's Xavi Simons before stretchered off during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur in Wolverhampton, England, Saturday April 25, 2026. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox traded veteran outfielder Derek Hill to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday in a swap between contending teams.

The White Sox also sent $250,000 in international bonus pool money to the Phillies for minor league outfielder Dylan Campbell and minor league infielder José Colmenares.

The 30-year-old Hill is batting .213 with four homers, eight RBIs and seven steals in 50 games this season. He was claimed off waivers by the White Sox in September.

Chicago also acquired outfielder Nolan Jones and cash from Cleveland for $250,000 in international bonus pool money. The 28-year-old Jones will report to Triple-A Charlotte.

Philadelphia added to its outfield depth after Adolis García departed Wednesday night's 7-4 victory at Toronto because of a pulled muscle in his right shoulder. García was expected to get some imaging on Thursday.

The Phillies are 28-12 since Don Mattingly took over as interim manager after Rob Thomson was fired in April. They had an off day before beginning a weekend series at NL Central-leading Milwaukee on Friday night.

To make room on Philadelphia's 40-man roster, right-hander Jackson Rutledge was designated for assignment.

Chicago has won four of six and 10 of 15 overall. After dropping at least 101 games in each of the previous three years, the White Sox are on top of the AL Central with a 36-31 record.

White Sox manager Will Venable praised Hill for his contribution to the team on and off the field.

“Really just a situation where we were in a little bit of a roster crunch there,” Venable said. “It speaks to D. Hill and his performance and who he is that there was a lot of interest in him and it also speaks to where our club is at that we are able to or really needed to push a really good player off our roster.”

Chicago also activated outfielder Everson Pereira from the 10-day injured list before its series finale against Atlanta was postponed because of rain and thunderstorms. The 25-year-old Pereira had been sidelined by a right pectoral strain.

“It took a little more time than I was expecting to, but I feel very good right now,” Pereira said through a translator. "I don’t think I have to be concerned about it throughout the season.”

Pereira was in the starting lineup against the Braves before the game was rescheduled, batting fifth and playing center field. Shortstop Colson Montgomery also was back in the lineup after missing two games because of back soreness.

“He’s going to have to manage it his whole career,” Venable said of Montgomery. “With backs, it’s something he’s dealt with in the past. Something he’ll deal with in the future. I don’t think to the degree you are concerned other than the daily maintenance you have to do to keep your body functioning properly.”

Jones had a big year for Colorado in 2023, batting .297 with 20 homers, 62 RBIs and 20 steals in 106 games. But he struggled for much of the past two seasons, hitting a career-low .211 with five homers in 136 games with the Guardians in 2025.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Chicago White Sox's Derek Hill hits a one-run single against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning in a baseball game, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)