Arsenal sign Jurrien Timber from Ajax for £38m

Arsenal have completed the signing of defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax for a fee in the region of £38 million.

Arsenal will pay an initial fee of over £34 million for the 22-year-old Netherlands international on a five-year deal, with the remainder payable in performance-related add-ons.

Timber, who came through the Ajax academy and has made 160 senior appearances for the Eredivisie club, completed his medical and finalised personal terms ahead of being unveiled at the weekend.

His twin brother, Quinten, currently plays for Eredivisie side, Feyenoord.

The Dutchman has been a long-term target for Arsenal and is their second signing of the summer following the £65 million arrival of Kai Havertz from Chelsea, with a £105 million deal to sign West Ham’s Declan Rice also imminent.

Timber, who will wear the number 12 shirt, is being signed by Arsenal as a right back but he can also play at centre back and has previously attracted interest from Manchester United.

He has 15 caps for the Netherlands and started four of their five games at last year’s World Cup in Qatar, where they were knocked out by eventual winners Argentina in the quarter-finals.

Speaking on the move, Arsenal Sporting Director Edu said: “We are very happy to bring Jurrien to Arsenal. He is a player that we have admired for a long time, so it’s a credit to everyone in our team that made this happen.

“Jurrien is a young talented international player, who fits our vision of competing with a young strong squad. I know Jurrien cannot wait to get started and we’re really hoping that he will be a great success here for many years.”

The Gunners manager, Mikel Arteta, said: “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.”

The Star