Barcelona’s Xavi Espart Faces Extended Injury Layoff Until 2027
Barcelona is set to endure a longer wait than anticipated for the return of 19-year-old defender Xavi Espart from injury, as Hansi Flick revealed that he may be sidelined until the start of 2027. The young talent is currently recovering from a syndesmosis injury to his right ankle, which he sustained during Barcelona’s El Clasico defeat against Real Madrid on October 25. This injury leaves the Catalan club without a valuable defensive asset during a challenging period in the season.
Flick shared details about Espart’s recovery timeline in a pre-match press conference ahead of Barcelona’s upcoming Champions League match against Aston Villa. The defender, who suffered damage to the syndesmosis joint in his right ankle due to a challenge with Aurelien Tchouameni, was unable to continue playing and was replaced by Alejandro Balde during the match.
Initially, Barcelona had announced on October 26 that Espart would be out for approximately seven weeks, suggesting a potential return before the year concludes. However, Flick’s recent statements imply that the recovery process may take significantly longer than the earlier timeframe.
Barcelona is currently grappling with multiple defensive woes, as Andreas Christensen, Eric Garcia, and Jules Kounde are also unavailable. Nonetheless, Flick expects these three players to return following the upcoming international break, leaving Espart with the most extended recovery period among the injured defenders.
“We have four injured players: Xavi Espart, Eric, Christensen, and Kounde. Xavi might return at the start of 2027. Others are likely to return after the international break,” Flick noted.
Espart’s injury leaves a notable gap in Barcelona’s defensive plans due to his versatility, having proven capable of playing on both sides of defense. The youngster has also made his mark offensively, contributing two goals and two assists in nine appearances during the ongoing 2026-27 season before his injury. This setback further complicates Barcelona’s selection dilemmas as they navigate a critical phase of the campaign.
