Injuries in football can be a real wildcard. They can destroy a team’s entire campaign in one fell swoop – and they certainly aren’t uncommon in the Premier League.
Today, we’ll be looking at five Premier League injuries that had a major negative impact on their team’s season. We’ll be looking at players from clubs such as Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in this list – let’s see who made this unlucky quintet.
Please note – this is not a list of the most ‘gruesome’ or ‘wince-inducing’ injuries that occured this season. We’ll be looking at the overall impact it had on the team, rather than on the individuals who sustained them.
Josh Cullen
In December, Burnley already looked to be in danger of relegation, but were still in with a chance of survival. Sadly, when Josh Cullen was ruled out for the season in the same month, their chances were greatly diminished.
An indefatigable runner in the heart of midfield with an excellent range of passing, losing Josh Cullen was a real death knell for the Clarets.
Not only is Cullen one of their best players, he is also their captain – Scott Parker’s men have desperately missed his leadership in the middle of the park.
Levi Colwill
Levi Colwill hasn’t played a single minute of football this season – given Chelsea’s lacklustre defensive record in 2025/26, the Blues certainly could’ve benefitted from his presence.
Unfortunately, Colwill picked up an ACL injury just after the Club World Cup, effectively ruling him out for the entirety of the current campaign.
It will also cost him a spot at the 2026 World Cup, too – England aren’t short of quality centre-backs, but Colwill surely would have been included if fully fit.
Dejan Kulusevski
Like Colwill, Dejan Kulusevski also hasn’t played any competitive football in the 2025/26 season. Unlike Colwill, however, Kulusevski’s team – Tottenham Hotspur – are now on the brink of relegation.
Kulusevski is a phenomenal player. His creativity and decision-making on the ball are almost second to none – additionally, there is no-one else in the Spurs squad who can perform his specific role.
Almost functioning as a wide playmaker, he could be called upon to unlock a tight defence – but not this season.
James Maddison
Kulusevski isn’t the only player who Spurs have been bereft of for the entire season – James Maddison was also ruled out for the year in pre-season.
Maddison has had issues with injuries before, but none of them have been quiet as significant as this one. He might be fit to play for the final game of the season, but it isn’t looking likely.
Maddison is in limbo at the moment. Not only do we not know if he will be the same player when he returns – we also don’t know what league Spurs will be in at the start of next season.
Alexander Isak
Out of all the injuries sustained by players in the Premier League, none have been as damaging – financially or otherwise – than Alexander Isak’s broken fibula.
Purchased for a jaw-dropping £125m in the summer, Isak failed to make an impact even when fit. Then, as soon as he managed to put a run of games together, he broke his leg – effectively ruling him out for most of the season.
Isak will be back in April – but it seems to be too little, too late at this stage. With just two Premier League goals scored all season, Isak’s injury effectively torpedoed Liverpool’s title challenge – the Reds now sit fifth in the league table.