ANP/Getty Images

United States national team forward Ricardo Pepi has been ruled out for around two months with a forearm fracture sustained against Excelsior Rotterdam on Saturday.

Pepi, 23, scored PSV Eindhoven’s second goal in the 23rd minute but landed awkwardly and had to be replaced immediately. The Dutch club confirmed after the 5-1 victory that he will undergo surgery on Sunday.

The striker has been in demand recently as Premier League side Fulham had a bid worth £26million (€30m; $35m) for him rejected last month. The Athletic reported in December that another bid was expected and other teams were also interested, though Pepi is under contract until 2030.

Ricardo Pepi heeft een onderarmbreuk opgelopen. ℹ️

De 23-jarige aanvaller wordt morgen geopereerd. Naar verwachting staat Pepi zo’n twee maanden aan de kant. pic.twitter.com/evNXVRPCwB

— PSV (@PSV) January 10, 2026

Pepi has made 21 appearances this season, registering 11 goals and two assists as PSV sit 14 points clear of Feyenoord at the top of the Eredivisie. The arm break marks the striker’s second significant injury in as many seasons as he sustained a serious knee injury in the latter half of the 2024-25 campaign, ruling him out for six months.

The U.S international initially made his senior breakthrough at Major League Soccer club FC Dallas, before spells at German side Augsburg and fellow Eredivisie side FC Groningen.

He has made 34 senior international appearances for the national team, scoring 13 and most recently appearing in a November friendly against Paraguay.

Jessica Hopkins is a Junior News Editor at The Athletic. She previously contributed to features and investigations across cycling, athletics and football. Follow Jessica on Twitter @JessMCHopkins