Former Liverpool attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho is set to miss the remainder of the season with an ACL injury after he suffered a devastating setback.
Carvalho, 23, has been seen by a specialist and will now prepare for upcoming surgery, having already started his rehabilitation at Brentford, the West London side confirmed in a statement.
Carvalho moved to Brentford from Liverpool in August 2024. He has made 33 appearances for the club in all competitions and has played nine times for Keith Andrews this term, scoring three goals, including a late equalizer against Chelsea.
Carvalho is the second Brentford player to sustain an ACL injury this season after Antoni Milambo's campaign was cut short in October.
Liverpool lost its young center-back, Giovanni Leoni, to the same injury when he went off against Southampton in the League Cup. He too will miss the remainder of the campaign as he recovers.
Carvalho has struggled for game time so far this season at Brentford in the Premier League. He has mainly featured in the cup or been sent on from the bench, due to the performances of Mikkel Damsgaard.
Fabio Carvalho celebrates his late equaliser for Brentford against Chelsea
(Image: Getty Images)
That has led to speculation that he could leave in January in search of more minutes. That plan, however, will need to be delayed until he returns to action.
Sunderland and Leeds United had both been put forward as potential destinations for Carvalho in the winter window, but they will now have to look elsewhere.
Carvalho will be focusing on the rehabilitation process for the time being, although he will have to reassess his Brentford future when he returns from injury.
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After his move in 2024, the former Portugal youth international still has four years left to run on the long-term contract he signed following his Liverpool exit.
Next summer, once he comes back from this blow, Carvalho might still be best served moving on.
Brentford agreed to a deal worth up to around $35 million (£27 million) for him including add-ons but it hasn't worked out so far.
Liverpool.com says: Carvalho has talent but he never quite looked strong enough or quick enough to make it with the Reds. He needs to find the right club (maybe one abroad) but there is definitely a player there.