US goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann breaks neck playing for Cesena

The former US youth international, 29, was stretchered off the field in a neck brace after a collision with a Palermo player and taken to a hospital in the Sicilian capital.

The club said in a statement that initial tests revealed “a fracture to the first cervical vertebra” and a cut to the back of the head. He is set for further tests with a specialist neurosurgeon, the club added.

Klinsmann posted on Instagram to say his season was over and thanked Cesena and Palermo fans “for the warm wishes” as well as “friends and family who have supported me over the last few days”.

Born in Munich when his father was playing for Bayern, Klinsmann played briefly for the Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS and has represented the United States at youth level. He was called in to US camp for friendlies in September 2025 but did not appear in either match in that window – a 2-0 loss to South Korea and a 2-0 win over Japan. He was a long shot to make the US roster for the 2026 World Cup.

He joined Cesena, which is in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, two years ago and has made more than 50 appearances for the club. The Serie B club is coached by former Arsenal, Chelsea and England defender Ashley Cole.