Arsenal have officially confirmed the signing of Jurrien Timber from Ajax, who has signed a deal until 2028 with the North London side, where he will wear the number 12 shirt.
In an interview on Arsenal’s website, the Dutch international confirmed he’s always had love for his new club, stating: “I’ve always been a fan of Arsenal. 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.”
According to Fabrizio Romano, the deal will be worth €40m plus a potential €5m in add-ons, which are said to be easy to reach, making the deal worth slightly more than the 22-year-old’s current €42m market value, according to Transfermarkt.
Having graduated from the Ajax academy, Timber has made 121 appearances for the Dutch giants, gaining experience in a variety of positions, such as right-back, centre-back, and even defensive midfield. This makes him him perfect fit in Mikel Arteta’s system, with his skillset allowing him to play a similar role to that of Ben White, by either tucking in on the right side of a back three or stepping up into midfield.
Furthermore, regardless of which role he plays next season, his excellent ability to progress play and retain possession makes the versatile defender valuable addition to the Gunners squad.
The Spanish manager reiterated when speaking about the signing in an interview with the club’s website, stating: “We’re really excited that Jurrien has joined us. He is a versatile young defender, who will fit into our system and provide our squad with so much added quality.
“Jurrien is a young player, but has already achieved so much. He has experienced what it’s like to go to a major international tournament on more than one occasion, as well as the trophies he has won with Ajax. We look forward to welcoming and integrating Jurrien into the squad.”
Timber is the second arrival at the Emirates this summer, having already acquired German international Kai Havertz from Chelsea for £65m, whilst the announcement of talented midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham is expected imminently.
Travis Levison | Get Football
