Juventus have lost another hugely important player at the start of the new season. According to Sportmediaset, Kefren Thuram will undergo surgery on his right knee, and his return to the pitch is not expected until early 2027.
The French midfielder has been trying to resolve the knee problem for months. It caused him to miss the entire pre-season, the first two league matches and the World Cup with the France national team.
Thuram expected to undergo surgery on Thursday
Sportmediaset reports that the operation is scheduled for Thursday, 3 September, following a specialist examination carried out in Lyon. Thuram is suffering from patellofemoral syndrome in his right knee, a problem in the area between the kneecap and the thigh bone. Juventus and the player initially tried to avoid surgery and treat the condition conservatively, but the expected improvement never came.
If the reports about the operation are confirmed, Thuram will be out for approximately four months and could return to the pitch only in early 2027. Juventus have not yet issued an official medical statement, so for now the date of the operation and the estimated recovery period should be treated as media reports.
The problems first appeared last season
Thuram's history of trouble with his right knee dates back to the second half of last season. In February 2026, it emerged that the French midfielder had a bone oedema, which left him a doubt for the big league clash against Inter.
The pain continued to trouble him throughout the spring, and his condition was a particular concern for Juventus in the closing stages of the league campaign. Despite the problems, Thuram tried to remain available to Luciano Spalletti.
His last appearance came against Torino
Thuram's last official appearance came on 24 May 2026, in the city derby against Torino that ended 2-2. The Frenchman spent around 70 minutes on the pitch and provided an assist, but he has not played for Juventus since that match.
Although he reported to Continassa in July a few days before most of his teammates, he arrived for training with his knee visibly strapped and well behind in his physical preparation. He missed all of the summer friendlies against Basel, Standard Liège, Nice, Chelsea, Inter and Palermo.
He has not featured at the start of the new season either
Thuram did not play in the first two rounds of Serie A either. He stayed on the bench against Frosinone, while he was left out of the squad for the match against Parma due to the ongoing knee problem.
With the therapy failing to deliver the desired results, Juventus decided to send him for an examination with the renowned French specialist Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet, who deals with complex knee injuries. Following that examination, according to Sportmediaset, surgery was judged to be the best long-term solution.
The injury also kept him out of the World Cup
The knee problems also affected Thuram's international status. France coach Didier Deschamps did not include him in the 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
France's squad list was announced on 14 May, at a time when Thuram was already struggling with the problems that made the end of his season so difficult. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the knee trouble was one of the key reasons why he missed out on a place at the World Cup.
Alongside Thuram, his Juventus teammate Pierre Kalulu was also left out of the France squad, as were several well-known names such as Eduardo Camavinga and Randal Kolo Muani.
Sarr's arrival now takes on even greater importance
Thuram's long absence seriously alters Luciano Spalletti's plans. Juventus signed Pape Matar Sarr from Tottenham on the final day of the transfer window, and that deal now carries added significance.
Sarr could immediately be handed an important role in midfield, particularly given that Juventus will be without one of their most physically dominant midfielders for several months.
Thuram's absence will not only affect Serie A matches. The Frenchman will also miss a large part of the first phase of the Europa League, which means Spalletti will have to find a new balance in the middle of the park.
Juventus await an official medical statement
For now, what has been confirmed is that Thuram has had a problem with his right knee for some time and that he has not yet played a single minute of the new season.
The report that the operation has definitely been scheduled and that he will be sidelined until early 2027 came from Sportmediaset, but an official statement from Juventus with the exact diagnosis, the type of procedure and the expected rehabilitation period is still awaited.
SOURCES: Sportmediaset, Sky Sport Italia, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport.
