Heracles Almelo's Jeff Reine-Adélaïde Sidelined with Knee Injury

Jeff Reine-Adélaïde

Heracles Almelo's Jeff Reine-Adélaïde suffers significant knee injury, undergoes surgery with uncertain return timeline.

Jeff Reine-Adélaïde, the talented French midfielder, has suffered a significant knee injury during a practice session last Friday, forcing him to undergo surgery. This setback is unfortunate for Heracles Almelo, as Reine-Adélaïde had generated excitement with his skills, joining the Eredivisie side from Salernitana on a free transfer.

Reine-Adélaïde's Background:

• Age: 27
• Nationality: French
• Position: Attacking Midfielder
• Current Club: Heracles Almelo
• Market Value: Approximately ₹7.2 Cr

Jeff Reine-Adélaïde, a 27-year-old French midfielder, has suffered a significant knee injury during practice with Heracles Almelo. The injury occurred on Friday, and after initial tests, the club announced that he'll undergo surgery in France with the same surgeon who treated his previous knee issues. This surgery aims to determine the extent of the injury and establish a recovery timeline.

Injury Details:

• Type of Injury: Knee injury, specifics not disclosed
• Surgery: Scheduled in France with a surgeon who previously treated Reine-Adélaïde
• Recovery Timeline: Uncertain, but Heracles doesn't expect his return anytime soon

Reine-Adélaïde's absence will likely impact Heracles Almelo's performance in the upcoming matches. Given the complexity of knee injuries, the recovery period could range from several months, similar to other athletes who've undergone knee surgery. For instance, ACL reconstruction typically requires 9-12 months of recovery, while meniscus surgery can take around 6-9 months to fully recover.

Heracles Manager Bas Sibum Expresses Sympathy for Injured Midfielder Jeff Reine-Adélaïde

Heracles Almelo manager Bas Sibum feels terrible for his injured midfielder Jeff Reine-Adélaïde, who suffered a significant knee injury during a practice session. “It's a terrible situation, especially for Jeff himself,” Sibum said, expressing his sympathy for the player. Reine-Adélaïde, who joined Heracles Almelo on a free transfer from Salernitana, was expected to be a key player for the team. His injury will likely keep him sidelined for an extended period, and the club is exploring options to cover his absence.

Reine-Adélaïde's injury history includes consecutive cruciate ligament tears at Lyon and Nice in 2019 and 2020. Now, at 27, he's facing another potentially long-term injury, which could impact his career. The midfielder's market value is approximately €900,000, and he's considered a talented player with a promising future. Given his past struggles with injuries, Reine-Adélaïde's current situation is particularly concerning for both the player and Heracles Almelo.

“He's had a similar injury before and now has to go through this difficult process again. It's also a blow for the team. You could see Jeff getting better every day, and to be honest, I haven't seen a midfielder in the Eredivisie who can play football as well as he can. Really, I haven't. It's a real shame for us, our fans and neutral football fans that we won't be able to see him in action for the time being.”

ℹ️ Jeff Reine-Adélaïde voor operatie naar Frankrijk

🔗 https://t.co/3g9vCrpdvd#WijZijnHeracles

— Heracles Almelo (@HeraclesAlmelo) August 18, 2025

Heracles Almelo, operating with one of the smallest budgets in the Eredivisie, faces a challenging situation after Jeff Reine-Adélaïde's injury. The club will likely need to bolster its squad to compensate for his absence. Recent departures and injuries have thinned out their ranks, including the sale of midfielder Jordy Bruijn to Bali United.

Key Absences:

Jeff Reine-Adélaïde: Midfielder expected to be sidelined for an extended period due to knee surgery

Jordy Bruijn: Midfielder sold to Bali United earlier this summer

Mario Engels: Recently suffered an injury, adding to the club's woes

Sava Cestic: Also dealing with an injury, further depleting the team's options

To address these gaps, Heracles Almelo may need to explore transfer options or promote players from their youth team, which has shown promise with a rank of 2 in the 2nd stage, Group A, with 16 points from 7 matches. With a limited budget, the club will have to be strategic in identifying talent that fits within their financial constraints.

“Together with the staff and the scouting team, we are always assessing the strength of our squad," said general manager Nico-Jan Hoogma.

“We are in the middle of a process, but unforeseen circumstances sometimes force you to act differently than initially planned. Mario Engels, who was forced to leave the pitch within fifteen minutes of the match against FC Utrecht, is one such circumstance.

“In addition, we also have to wait until more is known about the severity of Jeff's injury and the duration of his rehabilitation. We have until 2 September to act on the transfer market. We will make good use of that time to assess which qualities the squad needs most at this moment.”

Heracles Almelo is set to face a tough challenge as they visit Ajax in Amsterdam on Sunday, August 24th, in an Eredivisie match. After a disappointing start to the season, Heracles Almelo is looking to turn their fortunes around. They've suffered consecutive losses, including a 4-0 defeat to FC Utrecht and a 4-1 loss to NEC last weekend.

Given the history between the two teams, Ajax seems to have the upper hand. In their last 40 matches, Ajax has won 29 times, while Heracles Almelo has managed only 3 wins, with 8 draws. The match promises to be an exciting encounter, with Ajax looking to continue their dominance over Heracles Almelo.