Ruben Loftus-Cheek has appendix surgery on March 30, 2025, misses Napoli game

Ruben Loftus-Cheek had emergency surgery for appendicitis on March 30, 2025. This is different from earlier reports of a head injury.
By Newsroom | Football, Health |

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, a prominent footballer for AC Milan and a former England international, was recently hospitalized. Reports initially suggested a severe head injury, but further details confirm his admission was due to acute appendicitis, requiring emergency surgery. This medical issue led to his absence from AC Milan's Serie A match against Napoli.

Background: Initial Reports and Medical Intervention

On March 30, 2025, news emerged of Ruben Loftus-Cheek's hospitalization. Early reports from The Sun, published approximately 23 hours prior to the Daily Star's article, indicated a "gruesome head injury" and that the player was taken from the pitch on a stretcher, with his mouth covered in blood. This created considerable alarm among fans and observers regarding the severity of his condition and his potential for continued play.

However, subsequent reports from the Daily Star and The Sun, both dated March 30, 2025, clarified the situation. These articles stated that Loftus-Cheek experienced "severe abdominal pains" while at the team hotel in Naples on the evening before AC Milan's scheduled match against Napoli. He alerted the club's medical staff, who transported him to a local hospital.

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The conflicting initial reports regarding a head injury versus appendicitis highlight a discrepancy in information flow following the player's sudden illness.

The Nature of the Injury: Appendicitis Confirmed

Following tests at the Naples hospital, Loftus-Cheek was diagnosed with acute appendicitis. This diagnosis necessitated immediate surgical intervention for the removal of his appendix. Football.co.uk also reported on his hospitalization hours before the AC Milan match.

The appendicitis diagnosis directly impacted Loftus-Cheek's availability for AC Milan's crucial Serie A fixture against Napoli, a game he was expected to start. His previous season has been marked by injury challenges, limiting his appearances for Milan to 22 competitive games, with one assist recorded.

Conflicting Information and Clarification

The initial reporting of a "gruesome head injury" appears to be a misinterpretation or an overstatement of the events leading to Loftus-Cheek's hospitalization. The player's physical presentation upon falling ill – the blood observed around his mouth – may have contributed to the mistaken initial assessment, especially in the absence of immediate, detailed information.

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  • Initial Reports: Focused on a severe head injury, with imagery of the player being tended to by medics and showing signs of distress.

  • Subsequent Reports: Clearly stated an appendicitis diagnosis and the need for emergency surgery.

  • Official Confirmation: The prevailing medical consensus from multiple sources points to appendicitis as the reason for hospitalization.

The rapid dissemination of information in sports news, particularly when a high-profile athlete experiences a sudden medical issue, can lead to initial confusion and speculative reporting.

Expert Analysis and Player Status

While no direct quotes from medical professionals regarding the specific procedure or recovery timeline are available in the provided data, the confirmation of appendicitis and subsequent surgery implies a period of recovery. Loftus-Cheek's stated hope of impressing his manager for a return to the national squad suggests an ongoing commitment to his playing career despite this setback. The mention of a past incident involving Dele Alli and another countryman during a match does not appear directly related to Loftus-Cheek's current medical situation but may have been included in the source material for unrelated contextual reasons.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Ruben Loftus-Cheek was hospitalized not for a head injury, as initially suggested by some reports, but for acute appendicitis requiring emergency surgery. This medical event caused him to miss AC Milan's match against Napoli. The conflicting initial reports underscore the challenges in obtaining and verifying information rapidly during player emergencies. The player's focus now shifts to recovery and his future engagements with AC Milan and the England national team.

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Sources Used

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why was Ruben Loftus-Cheek hospitalized on March 30, 2025?
Ruben Loftus-Cheek was hospitalized on March 30, 2025, because he had severe stomach pains. Doctors found he had acute appendicitis and needed surgery.
Q: Did Ruben Loftus-Cheek have a head injury as first reported?
No, initial reports suggested a head injury, but later news confirmed it was appendicitis. He was taken to the hospital from his team hotel.
Q: What game did Ruben Loftus-Cheek miss because of his surgery?
He missed AC Milan's Serie A match against Napoli on March 30, 2025. He was expected to play in this important game.
Q: What is appendicitis and why does it need surgery?
Appendicitis is when your appendix gets swollen and painful. Doctors need to remove it quickly with surgery to stop it from causing more serious problems.
Q: When will Ruben Loftus-Cheek return to playing football?
The news does not say exactly when he will return. After appendix surgery, players need time to rest and heal before they can play again.