Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison has described the birth of his second set of twins as a positive distraction during a difficult period recovering from a serious knee injury.

The 29-year-old missed most of the 2025-26 season after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) last August. During his recovery, Maddison and his partner welcomed another set of twins, adding to a family with five children aged four and under.

Maddison described the past year as “the toughest year of his life” but said his family helped him cope with the challenges of being away from football.

“I needed that positive distraction of my partner being pregnant and having to be there for her and forget about myself,” Maddison said.

He admitted that life at home was challenging, with nappies, accidents and the demands of caring for five young children, but said he would not change the experience.

Maddison also revealed that his eldest son, Leo, had at one point assumed he had left Tottenham because of his long absence from football.

After missing an entire year, Maddison said he hopes his son can return to matches and remember watching his father play rather than seeing him at home recovering with a machine on his knee.