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Manchester United welcomed center back Matthijs de Ligt back into first-team training on Monday, indicating that his lengthy eight-month injury absence is nearing its end.
De Ligt has been sidelined since Nov. 30, 2025 due to a persistent back issue that ultimately required surgery in May. The operation was considered a success, and the Dutch defender has spent the preseason period focusing on his rehabilitation work at Carrington.
However, during this leg of the club's summer tour across northern Europe — which has already included camps and fixtures in Finland, Norway, and Sweden — De Ligt rejoined the squad for the first time as the group made its way to the Republic of Ireland.
He participated in the opening 15 minutes of Monday's training session at a facility in Co. Kildare, before transitioning back to his individual program as the session's intensity ramped up for the rest of the group. While De Ligt still has more work ahead before he can feature in competitive matches, this development represents a clear positive milestone in his recovery.
Carrick's Red Devils will make the short journey to Dublin on Wednesday, where they'll face Leeds United at the iconic Croke Park stadium. The squad will then wrap up preseason on Saturday with a match against AC Milan — now managed, coincidentally, by former Reds head coach Ruben Amorim — in Wrocław, Poland.
De Ligt Among 10 Players Added to Latest Man Utd Squad
At this advanced stage of preseason — with the new 2026–27 Premier League season kicking off in just under two weeks — the entire squad has now assembled in Ireland.
That includes players returning from post-World Cup holidays, as well as De Ligt and Benjamin Šeško — both of whom had been training at Carrington — along with newly signed goalkeeper Karl Darlow.
JJ Gabriel, who came off the bench briefly against Atlético Madrid in Stockholm but was left out of the traveling party for the Paris Saint-Germain match in Gothenburg, has also returned to the fold. New winger Tynan Thompson gets his first opportunity with the senior squad as well. The 18-year-old has arrived from Tottenham Hotspur, with hopes he can replicate the kind of impact Ayden Heaven made after being signed from Arsenal in 2025.
Matheus Cunha and Senne Lammens would ideally have featured in Gothenburg for the PSG fixture, but illness kept both men out of that trip. They have since recovered. Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford, who were with England through the World Cup's final weekend, trained on Monday, while Argentina defender Lisandro Martínez arrived later that evening.
Where De Ligt Fits in Man Utd's Defense
How Carrick sets up his back four for the Premier League opener — Manchester United travel to face Hull City on Aug. 22 — will likely hinge on the fitness of Martínez.
The 2026 World Cup finalist is the club's top left center back and a guaranteed starter when fit, but his heavily delayed summer break has eaten into most of preseason, leaving him with very little time to train and rebuild his conditioning.
Heaven could be handed the opportunity instead, partnering Harry Maguire at the back.
Once De Ligt is fully fit, he will be in direct competition with Maguire for the right-sided center back role. Leny Yoro, arguably the most versatile of the group, is also right-footed.
Injuries aside, Carrick will ideally settle on a first-choice back four flanked by fullbacks Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot. However, at least eight additional matches this season from Champions League involvement, combined with anticipated deep runs in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, will demand significant squad rotation to keep players fresh.
A large and capable squad will therefore be essential.