14 July 2023 , 14:02
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Arsenal have completed the signing of Dutch international defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax in a deal that is worth up to £38.5million.
Timber has penned a five-year contract at the north London club after passing his medical. His arrival continues the revamp of Mikel Arteta’s squad, who are setting their sights on the Premier League title after falling short to Manchester City last campaign.
Kai Havertz became the Gunners' first arrival of the window when he joined from Chelsea in what promises to be an important summer for the club. Arsenal have also secured a contract extension for central defensive star William Saliba through to the summer of 2027.
Timber - a star at Ajax - has signed a five-year contract with Arsenal (Getty Images)The Gunners are also set to break their club transfer record to secure the signing of West Ham United captain Declan Rice. A £105million fee has been agreed between the two clubs, with Rice close to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract in north London.
Timber is a central defender who is also capable of playing at right-back – albeit a position he has played in only sporadically in his career. He will aim to be providing competition for central defender Gabriel Magalhaes in Arteta’s starting line-up to partner Saliba.
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Defender Timber had been a primary transfer target for Manchester United boss Ten Hag – who coached him at Ajax – last summer prior to the 21-year-old’s decision to remain in Amsterdam for a further year.
Timber had also been linked with a move to Liverpool this year with his girlfriend reported to have been “house hunting” in Merseyside earlier in the year. The Reds are hopeful of making major renovations to their squad this summer after a disappointing season in which they finished outside the top four.
The Dutch defender explained that he has an agreement in place with Ajax to allow him to leave this summer. Timber explained to De Telegraaf in the Netherlands in April: “A transfer is getting closer and closer, so to speak. There is a lot of concrete interest and I have made agreements with Ajax.
“Last year, Ajax asked me to stay for at least one more season and to extend my contract. As a club boy I did that with love and after the season we agreed to review the situation.”
Timber had been under contract with Ajax until June 2025 and, although they have a history of selling their best players, they don’t do so cheaply. Last summer, United had to fork out £87.5m to sign Antony and £56m for Lisandro Martinez, while Barcelona paid £65m for Frenkie de Jong and Juventus shelled out £68m for Matthijs de Ligt.