Barcelona midfielder De Jong will miss the start of the new 2026/27 LaLiga season after suffering a ruptured knee ligament during the 2026 World Cup. FIFA confirmed the compensation to the club. The Netherlands were eliminated in the round of 32 following their penalty shootout defeat to Morocco, with De Jong playing several games in the tournament with a knee bandage. Barcelona asked De Jong to return early from the summer break to assess the severity of the injury. The club's medical department was frustrated with the level of assistance provided by the Dutch team, but the former Ajax midfielder remains optimistic about his recovery. FIFA regulations provide that clubs are entitled to compensation when a player is injured while serving the national team and is away for more than 28 days. De Jong's case should fit into this situation, making Barcelona eligible to receive compensation. The maximum expected value is 7.5 million euros per player, but the amount is calculated daily up to 20,548 euros, for a maximum of 365 days. Post navigation Barca sign Adeyemi from Borussia Braga draws 2-2 at SC Braga DAY