Manchester City have confirmed the Women’s Super League record goalscorer Vivianne Miedema has undergone surgery on her left knee.

The Dutch international, who joined City from Arsenal in the summer following the expiration of her contract, will now “begin a period of rehabilitation at the City Football Academy, working closely with the club’s medical team,” a club statement said. The type of injury and its extent has yet to be disclosed.

Miedema had made a strong start to life in Manchester, scoring twice, including in City’s 2-2 opening day draw with Arsenal, and providing one assist in five appearances. “Everyone at City would like to wish Viv a full and speedy recovery,” the statement said.

The forward has been absent for City’s last three games, with their manager, Gareth Taylor, saying she had a “slight niggle” and she was omitted from the Netherlands squad for the international window as a result.

Miedema missed the 2023 World Cup after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in Arsenal’s Champions League loss to Lyon in December 2022, a month after her partner, Beth Mead, had suffered the same injury.

The 28-year-old Miedema made her return to action 10 months later, in the Gunners’ WSL win over Bristol City. The road to full recovery has not been smooth though, with the forward undergoing minor knee surgery in March that kept her out for several weeks.