Frenkie de Jong Ruled Out for Six Weeks with Hamstring Injury

FC Barcelona has been dealt a major setback as the club confirmed that midfield cornerstone Frenkie de Jong will be sidelined for five to six weeks following a hamstring injury sustained during training on Thursday. The 28-year-old Dutch international, who has captained the side frequently this season, suffered a tear to the distal biceps of his right leg just as the team enters a defining stretch of the 2025-26 campaign. This news is particularly bittersweet for the Blaugrana, coming only days after De Jong scored in a 3-0 victory over Levante UD and celebrated the return of his midfield partner, Pedri, from a similar layoff.

​The timing of the injury could not be worse for manager Hansi Flick, who is currently navigating a congested fixture list across three competitions. De Jong is set to miss several crucial La Liga fixtures against Villarreal CF, Athletic Club, Sevilla FC, and Rayo Vallecano, as FC Barcelona attempts to maintain their slim one-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the table. More critically, the Dutchman will be absent for the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final against Atlético de Madrid—where FC Barcelona must attempt to overturn a daunting 4-0 aggregate deficit—and the Champions League Round of 16.

​Off the pitch, the injury comes at a rare moment of stability for De Jong, who finally resolved his long-standing contract saga late last year. In October 2025, the midfielder signed a significant extension keeping him at the Spotify Camp Nou until June 2029. The deal involved a restructured salary to help the club meet financial regulations and included a €500 million release clause, signaling a renewed commitment between the player and the board led by Joan Laporta. Despite the blow of losing him now, Hansi Flick has expressed unwavering confidence in the Dutchman’s role as the "architect" of his tactical project, and the club will look to younger talents like Marc Bernal or the recently returned Gavi to fill the void until mid-April.