Jude Bellingham Injury: Progress, Potential Return Date After Undergoing Surgery

Real Madrid have kicked off their 2025–26 season without Jude Bellingham.

Jude Bellingham has been dealing with a shoulder injury since 2023. / IMAGO/Guillermo Martinez

The time came for Jude Bellingham to finally undergo surgery for his dislocated shoulder, leaving Real Madrid without their No. 10 for months.

Back in Nov. 2023, Bellingham suffered a shoulder injury in Real Madrid’s goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano. Instead of going under the knife and missing major time in his debut season in a white shirt, the England international played through the pain, helping Los Blancos win La Liga and the Champions League.

Bellingham once again opted against surgery at the end of the 2023–24 season, electing instead to represent England in the Three Lions’ run to the Euro 2024 final. Then, the 2024–25 season started, and the midfielder was once again playing a packed match calendar, all while wearing a shoulder brace to manage his ongoing problem.

Following the end of the FIFA Club World Cup, Bellingham underwent surgery to permanently fix his lingering shoulder injury.

Here’s the latest on Bellingham’s progress.

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When Will Jude Bellingham Return From Injury?

Jude Bellingham was forced to wear a shoulder brace every time he played. / IMAGO/NurPhoto

Bellingham had been expected to be out for ten to 12 weeks, per MARCA. Although Real Madrid never confirmed a specific timeline for the England international’s return.

The midfielder has missed Madrid’s first three games of the La Liga season and subsequently wasn’t included in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for their September World Cup qualifiers.

However, Bellingham has stepped up his recovery over the break and now looks set for an earlier-than-expected return to action. He was involved in collective training on Monday, but Madrid‘s medical team do not want to rush him back.

Thus, Bellingham’s comeback may still be a couple of weeks away yet, but it looks likely that he’ll be back in action before the October international break. Madrid’s home clash with Villarreal on October 4 has been earmarked as a potential return date, but their busy September schedule means Bellingham could play a part before the month closes out.

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Potential Replacements for Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid

Franco Mastantuono joined the club in the summer. / Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

No one can truly replace what Bellingham does for Real Madrid, but Alonso certainly isn’t bereft of options, and the new manager has called upon multiple players to mitigate the Englishman’s absence at the start of the La Liga season.

Summer signing Franco Mastantuono and Arda Güler have taken on creative responsibilities from between the lines, with the former typically drifting infield off the right. Güler has been handed the license to impact the build-up phase and operate as Madrid’s connector between defence and attack.

Brahim Díaz is a drastically different profile to Bellingham but is another playmaker who offers guile between the lines and a bit of magic in tight spaces. Federico Valverde is perhaps the most similar given his ability to crash the box, but Alonso hasn’t yet utilised the Uruguayan in an advanced midfield role.

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