Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has undergone surgery to finally resolve a back issue that has kept him sidelined for six months, ending his season and World Cup ambitions. The 26-year-old made a strong start to what quickly turned into a nightmare campaign, having been unable to feature since a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace in late November. United confirmed he has undergone a "corrective procedure" after failing to return to competitive action following rehabilitation efforts on the grass last month. The club stated that the Netherlands international will begin "a new phase of his recovery" and expects him back for United in the early stages of the 2026-27 season. De Ligt posted a photo in a hospital bed with a thumb up alongside an Instagram caption: "After six months of treatment and working hard to get back, surgery was the only option left.…