Jonathan Klinsmann is recovering from a broken neck after a collision with a Palermo player on Saturday while playing for Cesena. He was stretchered off the field in a neck brace and taken to a hospital in the Sicilian capital.
Cesena said initial tests revealed a fracture to the first cervical vertebra and a cut to the back of the head. Klinsmann later posted on Instagram that his season was over.
He thanked Cesena and Palermo fans for the warm wishes and also thanked his friends and family who had supported him over the last few days. The 29-year-old is set for further tests with a specialist neurosurgeon.
The injury is a sudden setback for a goalkeeper who joined Cesena two years ago and has made more than 50 appearances for the Serie B club coached by Ashley Cole. Born in Munich when his father was playing for Bayern, Klinsmann has also represented the United States at youth level and briefly played for the Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS.
He was called into US camp for friendlies in September 2025 but did not appear in either match, including the 2-0 loss to South Korea and the 2-0 win over Japan. Klinsmann was already a long shot to make the US roster for the 2026 World Cup, and this injury now puts his immediate future firmly in the hands of the medical tests ahead.
