Timber's first comments at Arsenal explains why he was never joining Man Utd
Jurrien Timber has revealed his motivations for leaving Ajax to join Mikel Arteta’s project at Arsenal this summer.
Timber has signed a five-year contract with the Gunners after they agreed to pay Ajax £38.5million for his signature. He was announced on Friday afternoon, becoming the second signing of the transfer window, after Kai Havertz and before Declan Rice.
The 22-year-old has taken the No12 shirt at his new club and will be used in central defence and at right-back by Arteta. Timber had previously been linked with Manchester United, due to Erik ten Hag’s presence at Old Trafford, but he has instead moved to north London.
“I’ve always been a fan of Arsenal,” he told the club website. “It was because of my brothers. They were always Arsenal fans, and I just loved seeing Arsenal play. They had big players, the way they played, the style. I just love the club.
“I had this from a young age, but my brothers kind of put that in me. I liked watching Robin van Persie of course, and Thierry Henry. They were my favourite players.”
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He added: “I just like the way Arsenal play, is a bit similar to Ajax’s style and I like to play from the back. I can see a lot of similarities, especially in the way Arsenal and Ajax want to play."
Despite his youth, Timber is already an established player at club and international level. He made 34 Eredivisie appearances for Ajax last season and has earned 15 caps for the Netherlands.
Having come through the Ajax academy, he is technically sound and is particularly good on the ball. He completed 2,501 passes – 902 of which were forward – in the Eredivisie last season, both of which placed him first in the division.
Jurrien Timber was always a fan of Arsenal (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
He can play centre-back or right-back (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)He has never hidden his ambition to leave his homeland and become a better player. “A transfer is getting closer and closer, so to speak,” he told De Telegraaf in April. “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 will review the situation. At the Dutch national team, I often talk to boys who play football abroad. I want to take that step someday.”
That day has now come and he will join the Gunners on their pre-season tour to the United States. Arteta’s side have fixtures against MLS All Stars at Audi Field, Washington DC, on July 20, before facing Manchester United in the MetLife Stadium, New York, on July 22, and Barcelona at the SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, on July 26.
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