His comeback lasted minutes. The nightmare could last months.
Oleksandr Zinchenko’s fresh start at Ajax has turned into a devastating setback — with reports suggesting the former Arsenal defender may have suffered a season-ending knee injury on his debut.
It was meant to be a reset.
After a complicated final year in north London, a loan spell at Nottingham Forest that ended early by mutual consent, and questions about his long-term future, Zinchenko chose Ajax as the place to rebuild.
He even accepted a significant pay cut to make the move happen — all with one goal in mind: securing his place in Ukraine’s squad for this summer’s World Cup.
Now, that dream hangs in the balance.
The 29-year-old picked up the injury during his first appearance for the Dutch giants, in what should have been the beginning of a new chapter. Instead, it may have slammed the door shut on his season before it even began.
Medical assessments are ongoing, but early indications suggest the knee problem could rule him out for the remainder of the campaign.
If confirmed, it would be a brutal twist.
Zinchenko joined Arsenal from Manchester City in July 2022 and went on to make 91 appearances in all competitions across three seasons, contributing three goals and five assists. His tactical intelligence and inverted full-back role were central to Mikel Arteta’s system during Arsenal’s resurgence.
But last year, cracks began to show.
He publicly hinted that Arteta had lost faith in him, particularly following the emergence of academy star Myles Lewis-Skelly. Competition intensified. Minutes became less certain. A move began to feel inevitable.
His temporary switch to Nottingham Forest raised eyebrows at the time, with many believing he would remain at Arsenal until the end of his contract. Yet that loan ended prematurely, paving the way for his Ajax opportunity.
Whether Arsenal terminated his deal to facilitate the move or sold him outright remains unclear — no transfer fee details were disclosed.
What was clear, however, was Zinchenko’s determination.
The move to Ajax wasn’t just about football. It was about international ambition. With Ukraine preparing for a major tournament this summer, he needed minutes. Momentum. Visibility.
Instead, he faces a race against time.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have adapted swiftly in his absence. Riccardo Calafiori has cemented himself as first-choice left-back, while Jurrien Timber and Lewis-Skelly have provided depth. The transition has been smoother than many expected.
For Zinchenko, though, the road forward suddenly looks uncertain.
From title races at the Emirates to rehabilitation rooms in Amsterdam, football can change in an instant.
What was meant to be a comeback story may now become a recovery battle.
And with the World Cup looming, every week will matter.
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