Bournemouth is ‘devastated’ – a day after the announcement of the record signing, Evanilson is out of the machine
Bournemouth have said they will support Enes Unal “in every way possible” after the Turkey international became their latest long-term absent striker.
A day after the Cherries revealed that Brazilian striker Evanilson had undergone surgery for a broken bone in his foot, the club announced that Unal had torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during a routine training exercise on Tuesday, adding that they were “devastated”.
Unal, who scored both goals this season in back-to-back Premier League games in December, also missed the first half of the 2023/24 season. of the Spanish team Getafe due to an ACL injury.
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with Enes at this time as he begins to process another significant period of rehabilitation ahead of him,” the club said in a 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. We all stand behind Enes and will provide updates on his recovery progress when necessary.”
We are all with you Enes 🫂
We wish you all the best in your recovery ❤️🖤 pic.twitter.com/hkwGvHZrGD
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 8, 2025
Unal Bournemouth statistics
The 27-year-old joined Bournemouth on loan from Getafe in January before making the £13m permanent move in May.
He scored two goals and provided two assists in 17 appearances during his loan spell and has played in all 17 of the club’s games since sitting out his first four games of the season with a broken toe.
That injury ruled Unal out of Turkey’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 does not go unnoticed here, Eva 🇧🇷
All the best in your recovery ❤ pic.twitter.com/naAE6t0RFo
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 7, 2025
Bournemouth injuries: Unal, Evanilson out
Bournemouth responded by recalling their only remaining outstanding centre-forward, Daniel Jebbison, from his loan spell at second-tier Watford, where the 21-year-old failed to score in 13 appearances.
Six-goal top scorer Justin Kluivert was among their strikers in 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 with a foot injury.
Evanilson joined for a club-record £40.2million from Porto in August and has five goals in 19 league games, starting 17 times.
Antoine Semenyo, who also has five goals, started in an attack that also includes Dango Ouattara, who has three, and Unal was introduced as a substitute.
Bournemouth vs West Brom
Andoni Iraola’s men are seventh in the table and three points outside the top four after going a club-record eight league games without defeat.
They are next in action at home to second-tier West Bromwich Albion in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
