Arsenal have announced the signing of the defender Jurriën Timber from Ajax. The 22-year-old becomes the club’s second summer acquisition after Kai Havertz, and confirmation of Declan Rice’s move from West Ham will follow.
Arsenal are paying €40m (£34.3m) plus €5m in add-ons for Timber and have given him a five-year deal. Timber has 15 Netherlands caps and is believed to have been signed predominantly to play at right-back. He is also comfortable at centre-back and can operate in midfield.
Timber said he had been an Arsenal fan as a child, influenced by his 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 liked watching Robin van Persie of course, and Thierry Henry. They were my favourite players.”
Timber has been a long-term target for Arsenal, with his ability on the ball and his pressing aligned with what Mikel Arteta is aiming to achieve. He has won the Eredivisie twice and was part of the Netherlands side that won the European Under-17 title in 2018.
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“He is a versatile young defender who will fit into our system and provide our squad with so much added quality,” Arteta said. “Jurriën 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.”