AGREEMENT REACHED: Arsenal to sign Jurrien Timber - the full details

Carlo Garganese

5 Jul 2023 13:40 BST
3 min read

Arsenal will sign Jurrien Timber after reaching a full agreement with Ajax.

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David Ornstein reported for The Athletic on Wednesday that Ajax have accepted a €40 million bid plus €5m in easily reached bonuses.

The Ajax defender will now undergo a medical and sign personal terms that have already been agreed in principle.

Arsenal had an initial bid of around €35m rejected last month but have been successful after launching a second offer that will reach €45m with add-ons.

Arsenal had made the signing of a hybrid defender who can play at centre back and right back a priority for the summer transfer window.

The Gunners have been very busy in the summer transfer window so far, already buying Kai Havertz from Chelsea for €70m and being on the verge of announcing Declan Rice from West Ham for a three-figure sum.

The move for Timber comes one year after Man Utd were close to buying him.

Man Utd bid for Timber in 2022

Man Utd’s top target at centre back ahead of the 2022-23 season was Timber, who is admired by manager Erik ten Hag.

However, a transfer didn’t materialise for a couple of reasons.

First of all, Ajax were reluctant to sell and, secondly, the player himself was not convinced that he was ready for the move. Indeed, Timber decided that it would be better for him to develop in Amsterdam for another year.

As a result, Timber stayed at Ajax and United moved to sign his teammate Lisandro Martinez instead.

Arsenal have now stepped in to sign Timber ahead of Man Utd.

Timber made 47 appearances for Ajax last season, while he has been capped 15 times by Netherlands.