Tottenham heads to pre-season tour without key stars: Kulusevski and Kudus sidelined

London club Tottenham has announced its squad for the pre-season tour across New Zealand and Australia. The team, managed by Roberto De Zerbi, faces significant absences: Dejan Kulusevski and Mohammed Kudus will not travel as they continue their recovery from injuries, as reported by Goal.com. reports that.

The situation surrounding Swedish winger Dejan Kulusevski is causing major concern for the club's management. The player suffered a serious knee injury ahead of the Europa League final in May 2025, which Tottenham won. He has not appeared in an official match for nearly 14 months since then. His current absence from the club's training base suggests his recovery process is proving much more difficult than anticipated.

Mohammed Kudus sustained a hamstring injury during a match against Sunderland in January. Although the player has begun individual training in the gym in recent days, the coaching staff decided not to risk him with long-haul travel and intensive matches. Kudus will continue his rehabilitation in London.

New transfers and squad changes

Despite injury concerns, Roberto De Zerbi is taking 35 players overseas. During the tour, fans will be able to see the team's new members in action. Notably, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, signed for a combined £185 million during the summer transfer window, have been included in the squad.

Additionally, new signings Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke, and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka will participate in their first international tour in a Tottenham shirt. However, Marcos Senesi, who reached the World Cup final with Argentina, is absent due to an extended break. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario remained in London after picking up a minor injury in training.

Tottenham is scheduled to play three friendly matches in Auckland and Sydney during this tour. The team previously concluded its first stage of preparation with a 1-0 victory over MK Dons. Young talents like Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons have also been added to the list of players sidelined by injury.

For the club's technical staff, Kulusevski's long-term absence remains the biggest problem. It is still unknown when the winger, once a key pillar of the team's attack, will return to action. This may force Tottenham to look for additional options in the transfer market to strengthen the attacking line.