Arsenal Sign Jurrien Timber From Ajax For Initial £34m Transfer Fee

Netherlands international Jurrien Timber has completed his transfer from Ajax to Arsenal.

The Gunners have agreed to pay Ajax an initial £34 million transfer fee plus a possible further £4.5m in add-ons.

Defender Timber will wear the no.12 squad number, which was recently vacated when William Saliba upgraded to no.2.

Arsenal have not revealed the length of the contract that Timber has sign, but a club statement said it was a "long-term" deal.

Timber, 22, had been an Ajax player since joining the club's youth ranks in 2014.

He made more than 100 first-team appearances for Ajax and won three trophies, including two Eredivisie titles.

Timber is primarily a center-back but he can also play at right-back.

Gunners sporting director Edu said on Friday: "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."

Jurrien Timber pictured playing for Ajax in a UEFA Champions League game against Rangers in November last year

IMAGO/PA Images/Andrew Milligan

Manager Mikel Arteta added: "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 will travel with the Arsenal squad to the USA on Sunday.

The Gunners will play an MLS All-Stars team in Washington next Wednesday, before facing Manchester United in New Jersey and then taking on Barcelona in Los Angeles.

Timber pictured playing for the Netherlands during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar

IMAGO/Buzzi