Zinchenko Undergoes Surgery, Says Goodbye to Ajax Teammates Amid Injury Recovery
Amsterdam, Netherlands – February 22, 2026 – Ajax left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko has undergone a knee operation following a serious injury sustained during last week’s 4-1 victory over Fortuna Sittard. The Ukrainian international faces a rehabilitation period of six to seven months, potentially ruling him out for the remainder of the season and the start of the next.
Zinchenko shared an update via Instagram, posting a photo from his hospital bed with a message of determination: “Challenging times ahead. Let them come.”
Interim coach Fred Grim revealed that Zinchenko bid farewell to the technical staff and his teammates on Thursday. “He explains that he especially feels very guilty about this injury and is very concerned about it. That is typical of humans. He said goodbye yesterday. That was quite an emotional moment,” Grim stated during a press conference on Friday. Grim also confirmed that Zinchenko’s rehabilitation will not accept place in Amsterdam.
Several Ajax players, including Anton Gaaei, Davy Klaassen, Oscar Gloukh, and Youri Baas, have offered messages of support to Zinchenko on social media.
Zinchenko expressed feelings of guilt towards the club after joining Ajax on loan from Arsenal in the winter transfer period. He previously played for Manchester City.
In other Ajax news, Jordi Cruijff, the club’s technical director, surprised the Jong Ajax team with a visit to their dressing room after their 1-0 victory over FC Dordrecht.
Wim Kieft, in a column for De Telegraaf, expressed concern over the lack of Dutch talent within the Ajax squad, noting that several promising players – Mika Godts, Rayane Bounida, and Jorthy Mokio – are of Belgian nationality.
the Ajax Resale platform has been integrated into the club’s main ticket shop at ajax.nl/tickets, aiming to provide a more streamlined experience for supporters.
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