Report: Estimated PSG return date set for Presnel Kimpembe

Away from the pitch since February 2023, Presnel Kimpembe is still not training with his teammates at the Campus PSG but is finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel, according to the latest reports from Le Parisien.

Is Presnel Kimpembe’s long road to recovery finally nearing its end? The French central defender, who ruptured his right Achilles tendon in a match against Marseille (3-0) in February 2023, hasn’t played since and had to undergo surgery again at the beginning of 2024. By the end of July, he seemed close to returning, but a muscle issue in his left leg once again disrupted his plans.

While no official return date has been set by the club, Le Parisien reports that a clearer timetable for Kimpembe’s recovery is emerging. The 2018 World Cup winner has resumed individual outdoor training over the past week, having been reassured about the strength of his right Achilles tendon. The current aim is for him to return to full training with the squad in the second half of October.

Report: Estimated PSG return date set for Presnel Kimpembe

Despite his delayed comeback after briefly rejoining the group at the beginning of August, Kimpembe remains positive, according to LP, and continues to fulfill his role as vice-captain, for which he was re-elected last week. A PSG academy product, having joined the club in 2005, Kimpembe was also pleased to be included in the club’s UEFA Champions League squad list, as noted by the regional paper. PSG is supporting him through this difficult time and rejected any possibility of transferring him during the last transfer window.

This show of faith has deeply touched Kimpembe, who remains close to the dressing room and squad, even though he has been training separately for months. It’s not uncommon for him to travel with the team for away matches, despite his unavailability. However, it’s still difficult to say when Kimpembe will make his competitive return. It will depend on how he copes with individual training sessions and later with the team in about a month’s time.

Having a tentative return date is reassuring, as it removes the lingering doubt over whether Kimpembe will miss out on the season once again. However, it’s hard to be too optimistic just yet.

October still feels a fair way off, especially for a player who missed the entire pre-season and will need time to regain fitness. The season was already going to be challenging for Kimpembe, who didn’t feature in any official matches last year. Kimpembe’s absence continues to drag on, and even the mentioned date remains uncertain. There were earlier rumours of an earlier return.