Matthijs de Ligt is reportedly on course to return for Manchester United in the early stages of next season, giving Michael Carrick a timely defensive lift before a demanding 2026/27 campaign.
The Sun reports that the Netherlands centre-back is currently in Ibiza combining rest with targeted rehabilitation after surgery on a troublesome back problem last month.
Manchester United’s official update also confirmed De Ligt had undergone surgery and was expected to return in the early stages of the 2026/27 season.
De Ligt Return Would Strengthen Carrick’s Defensive Base
De Ligt’s availability matters because United have already had to manage a fragile defensive picture across the past year.
The 26-year-old started 13 consecutive games before being ruled out from 30 November onwards, underlining how quickly he had become a core figure when fit.
United’s own player profile notes the defender arrived from Bayern Munich in 2024 with major European pedigree, having previously played for Ajax, Juventus and the Netherlands.
That experience is precisely why Carrick will want him available early, rather than eased back deep into autumn.
Read Man Utd has already looked at why Harry Maguire’s GPS fitness work gives Carrick an early pre-season marker, and De Ligt’s recovery sits in the same defensive availability picture.
United are balancing Champions League football, pre-season squad reshaping and defensive decisions around both flanks.
A fit De Ligt would not solve every structural issue, but it would give Carrick one senior centre-back pillar to build around while the market work continues.
For a side trying to sharpen its floor before chasing higher ceilings, that is no small boost.
