Oleksandr Zinchenko Ruled Out for Rest of Season with Knee Injury

Ajax left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko injured in win over Fortuna Sittard

Oleksandr Zinchenko suffers severe knee injury, ruled out for rest of season, missing World Cup play-offs with Ukraine.

“Examination at the hospital has shown that surgery is require...”

Ajax are facing a major blow as Oleksandr Zinchenko's season is over, just a month after joining from Arsenal. The 29-year-old Ukrainian defender suffered a severe knee injury in the third minute of Ajax's 4-1 win over Fortuna Sittard, when he was fouled by Dimitris Limnios.

Zinchenko's injury is a huge loss for Ajax, who had big plans for him this season. With his departure, the left-back position is up for grabs. 

“Examination at the hospital has shown that surgery is required. This will take place in the near future. The 29-year-old Ukraine international will then face a lengthy rehabilitation period, which means he will not play again this season,” the club said in a statement on Monday.

The injury also means Zinchenko would miss the upcoming FIFA World Cup with Ukraine, who were drawn against Sweden and Poland/Albania in the World Cup play-offs in March.

Zinchenko's time at Ajax just got cut short. He joined from Arsenal on a six-month contract, giving Jordi Cruyff a chance to assess him for a potential longer deal. Now, with his injury, it's unclear what the future holds for the Ukrainian defender.

Oleksandr Zinchenko's Ajax debut was a bit of a mixed bag. He played 15 minutes in a 1-1 draw against AZ on February 8th, but things took a turn for the worse against Fortuna Sittard. He was substituted off after just six minutes due to a knee injury, which has now been confirmed to rule him out for the rest of the season.

Oleksandr Zinchenko has been ruled out for an extended period.

Get well soon, Zinny ♥️

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) February 16, 2026

This is a major blow for Ajax, who are currently third in the Eredivisie, 17 points behind leaders PSV. Zinchenko's injury also means he'll miss Ukraine's World Cup play-offs in March. Ajax coach Fred Grim expressed his disappointment, saying it's a “difficult time” for Zinchenko.