Bournemouth have said they will support Enes Unal “in every way possible” after the Turkiye international became their latest long-term attacking absentee.
A day after the Cherries revealed Brazilian striker Evanilson has had surgery on a broken bone in a foot, the club announced Unal tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during a routine training drill on Tuesday, adding that they are “devastated”.
Unal, who scored both of his goals this season across consecutive Premier League games in December, also missed the first half of Spanish team Getafe’s 2023/24 season with an ACL injury.
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with Enes at this moment as he begins to process another significant period of rehabilitation ahead,” said a club statement on Wednesday.
“He will undergo surgery to repair the ligament in the coming days and the club’s medical and performance staff will support him in every way possible throughout. We are all behind Enes and will provide updates on his recovery progress when appropriate.”
We’re all with you, Enes 🫂
Wishing you the best with your recovery ❤️🖤 pic.twitter.com/hkwGvHZrGD
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 8, 2025
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Unal Bournemouth stats
The 27-year-old joined Bournemouth on loan from Getafe in January before making the move permanent for £13 million in May.
He contributed two goals and two assists in 17 appearances during his loan spell and has played in all 17 of the club’s matches since sitting out their first four games of this season with a broken toe.
That injury kept Unal out of Turkiye’s Euro 2024 squad but he returned to win his 34th cap as a substitute at home to Wales in the Nations League in November.
Your tireless work doesn’t go unnoticed by us, Eva 🇧🇷
All the best with your recovery ❤ pic.twitter.com/naAE6t0RFo
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 7, 2025
Bournemouth injuries: Unal, Evanilson out
Bournemouth have responded by recalling their only remaining out-and-out centre-forward, Daniel Jebbison, from his loan at second-tier Watford, where the 21-year-old did not score in 13 appearances.
Six-goal top scorer Justin Kluivert was among their forward line for their 1-0 win at home to Everton on Saturday, when David Brooks scored 13 minutes from time and Evanilson was substituted after 82 minutes because of his foot injury.
Evanilson joined for a club-record £40.2m from Porto in August and has five goals in 19 league games, starting 17 times.
Antoine Semenyo, who also has five goals, started as part of an attack also containing Dango Ouattara, who has three, with Unal introduced as a substitute.
Bournemouth vs West Brom
Andoni Iraola’s players are seventh in the table and three points outside the top four after going a club-record eight league games unbeaten.
They are next in action at home to second-tier West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup third round on Saturday (3pm GMT).
