Club Brugge KV’s season start hit by Joel Ordóñez’s injury

On the training ground of Club Brugge KV, a solitary walking cast lay on the pitch, a stark reminder that defender Joel Ordóñez will miss the club’s opening fixtures after suffering a fracture to his middle foot metatarsal in Ecuador’s final World Cup match.

The injury forces the Belgian club to adjust its strategy for the season start, as Ordóñez will be unavailable for the first games.

Club medical staff say the fracture requires three weeks in a walking cast before he can train again.

The break occurred in the World Cup round of 16; after the halftime break he could not continue and remained in the dressing room, with further examinations confirming the fracture.

Club Brugge KV will be without him for the Supercup and the opening weeks of the new league campaign, and the club expects his return at the beginning of September.

For the blue‑black side this is a sporting setback, because the Ecuadorian has become a key figure in defence over recent seasons and his absence removes a reliable pillar from the back line.

Ordóñez had hoped to arrange a summer transfer and Club Brugge KV would not oppose a sale if a substantial fee were offered; however, no concrete bid has arrived and the injury complicates any potential move, forcing interested clubs to factor his recovery time into negotiations.

The club remains in a strong position as Ordóñez is under contract until June 2029, giving Brugge negotiating room. He joined Club Brugge KV in 2022 from Independiente del Valle for €3.9 million, has become a regular starter, sees his market value rise to €33 million and has earned 20 caps for Ecuador, underscoring his experience despite his youth.