Ajax defender Jurrien Timber is reportedly closing in on a move to Arsenal after a potential £41m deal with add-ons was agreed upon between the two clubs.
The Gunners have been busy making moves in the summer transfer window. After completing the signing of Kai Havertz from London rivals Chelsea, they have agreed a deal in principle with West Ham to sign Declan Rice for a record fee of £100m plus £5m add-ons. And it now looks like the Gunners have shifted their focus towards bolstering the defensive options ahead of the 2023/24 season.
According to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Jurrien Timber is ready to pack his bags and fly to London, ahead of his medical tests and presentation in the coming days at Arsenal. A verbal agreement between Arsenal and Ajax has been reached, and the defender will sign a lucrative contract until the summer of 2028, the report adds.
A product of Ajax’s famed academy, Timber, 22, has not looked back since enjoying his breakthrough campaign in 2020-21, racking up 124 appearances. He enjoyed a solid last year, playing 47 times across all competitions, but couldn’t help Ajax qualify for the Champions League.
Jurrien Timber to Arsenal—Exciting addition to the Gunners’ squad?
Arsenal have been very active in the summer transfer window, as manager Mikel Arteta aims to build on a strong 2022/23 campaign. The lack of quality depth in certain areas of the pitch was the prime reason for their failure to sustain a title challenge during the back end of last season, and Arteta wants to improve them in this transfer window.
The central defensive positions seem locked out with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes forming a strong partnership for most of the season. However, a back injury to Saliba in March turned out to be the catalyst to the Gunners’ huge dip in form and eventually losing the title to Manchester City.
Thus, the arrival of Jurrien Timber couldn’t come soon enough for Arsenal. Despite his young age, Timber has won the Eredivisie title twice and the KNVB Cup with Ajax while becoming the first player ever to be crowned the best player and talent of the Eredivisie. The Dutchman is one of the most-coveted young players in Europe right now, and he would undoubtedly bolster Arteta’s squad.
Capable of playing at both centre-back and right-back, Timber would help address Arsenal’s lack of quality depth in defence. The Netherlands international, who can operate as an inverted full-back similar to Oleksandr Zinchenko, is known for his composure on the ball and passing range, and his addition would improve the Gunners’ build-up play from the back.
The 22-year-old could be viewed as a competitor to Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu at right-back, while his experience in Europe should come in handy to a young Arsenal side that will compete in the Champions League next term.
All in all, Arsenal signing a player of Timber’s quality and versatility in a £41m deal from Ajax should be seen as a bargain.
