The injury-prone defender was hoping to avoid a second groin operation of the year in order to play some part in Spurs' remaining games but it now appears Harry Redknapp will have to make do without another defender.
The latest injury means that Redknapp will only have Michael Dawson and Sebastien Bassong available at centre-back for Tuesday night's Champions League showdown with Real Madrid.
Injured again: Ledley King has only played seven times this season
'We have lost Ledley King, it looks like he will have to have an operation that will finish his season, said Redknapp.
'He has had problems with his knee for a long time, but that doesn't seem too bad - it's just his groin.'
King - who had surgery on his troublesome groin only last month in Germany - joins Jonathan Woodgate (calf), Younes Kaboul and William Gallas (both knee) on the injury list.
Woodgate's career is reportedly in doubt after he limped out of a friendly with a Barnet XI with yet another injury, the 31-year-old has only played 277 games in a 14-season career.
Redknapp added: 'We started the year with six central defenders here. Now we have two.
'Jonathan Woodgate was making good progress but got a calf injury in a friendly against Barnet and Younes Kaboul is still out with a thigh strain.
'William Gallas has been for a scan on his knee today. He struggled at the weekend and we are now down to having just Michael Dawson and Sebastien Bassong.'
Career in doubt: Jonathan Woodgate has picked up a calf injury
King, 30, has also had a career blighted by injury - he has only featured 61 times for Spurs in the last four seasons.
The news will hit Redknapp even harder given that William Gallas has barely trained in the last two weeks since picking up a mystery knee problem in the 0-0 draw with West Ham.
The Frenchman, who recently signed a two-year contract, is having a scan on Thursday and Spurs fans will be praying for some good news on the defensive front.
The positive news for Redknapp is that none of his international players have reported back injured and Tom Huddlestone is set to return against Wigan from a long-term ankle injury.
?Tottenham closing in on summer move for ?15m Ipswich teen star Wickham Friedel warns Wilshere and co they'll regret not playing in the Olympics Now it's time to get serious: Sportsmail's experts deliver their verdicts on the season so far... and what's to comeAll the latest Tottenham news, features and opinion
?Explore more:People: Sebastien Bassong, Jonathan Woodgate, William Gallas, Michael Dawson, Ledley King, Harry Redknapp, Younes Kaboul, Tom Huddlestone Places: Germany
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail