Manchester City have confirmed that Josko Gvardiol will undergo surgery later this week after suffering a tibial fracture to the right leg, with the defender now facing a spell on the sidelines during
a demanding phase of the season for Pep Guardiola’s squad.
The club outlined the situation in an official statement, saying: "Manchester City FC can confirm that Josko Gvardiol has suffered a tibial fracture to his right leg. " Surgery is scheduled for later this week, while medical staff continue assessments to determine recovery timelines and longer-term prognosis.
The problem occurred during the second half of Sunday’s 1-1 Premier League draw against Chelsea, when Gvardiol went down following a collision with Malo Gusto. The defender initially tried to continue, but the issue soon forced a substitution and subsequent detailed checks.
Manchester City later shared an "Injury update" post on social media, providing a brief confirmation of the setback for Gvardiol and directing supporters to further details, with the news arriving as the team balance league, domestic cups and Champions League commitments.
Josko Gvardiol: Injury update Read here https://t.co/io0GQ1aDzG pic.twitter.com/62EMTu5J2qManchester City (@ManCity) January 5, 2026
Gvardiol has played in 16 of Manchester City’s 20 Premier League matches this campaign, recording the fourth-highest tackle count in the squad with 13 and winning 55.2% of duels. The Croatia international has two league goals and two assists, with City currently six points behind leaders Arsenal.
Manchester City face a demanding schedule without Gvardiol, beginning with a league game against Brighton before an FA Cup tie against Exeter. A first-leg EFL Cup semi-final visit to Newcastle United at St. James Park follows, then a Premier League meeting with Manchester United on January 17.
| Competition | Opponent | Venue | Stage / Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | Brighton | Manchester City | League fixture |
| FA Cup | Exeter | To be confirmed | Upcoming tie |
| EFL Cup | Newcastle United | St. James Park | Semi-final first leg |
| Premier League | Manchester United | To be confirmed | 17 January league match |
| Champions League | Bodo/Glimt | To be confirmed | Group phase fixture |
| Champions League | Galatasaray | To be confirmed | Group phase fixture |
| Premier League | Wolves | Manchester City | League game between European ties |
Those Champions League matches against Bodo/Glimt and Galatasaray come either side of a home league meeting with Wolves, adding further strain on defensive resources. Manchester City added that "Everyone at the Club wishes Josko a speedy recovery," as the medical team monitor progress after surgery.
