With the ongoing transfer saga of Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal, the pursuit of Jurrien Timber has gone somewhat under the radar. However, the Dutch international has now completed his move from Ajax in a deal reported at being in the region of £38 million, according to Sky Sports.
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Arsenal Complete Signing of Jurrien Timber for £38 million
Dutch Legend Jaap Stam Hails Defender as ‘Exceptional’
Timber joins Mikel Arteta’s side from Ajax having come through their renowned academy system, making a total of 121 appearances for the club’s senior team.
At 22, the Dutchmen is already impressing some of football’s great’s and has been described as an ‘exceptional player’ by former Ajax, Manchester United and Netherlands international Jaap Stam.
Read more: How will Jurrien Timber fit in at Arsenal
Talking on Charlie Watts’ Youtube channel Inside Arsenal, Stam added:: “He’s a very good player. In Holland he has been doing very well last season – been very impressive. This season due to circumstances, not as impressive as last season, but you can still see the quality that he’s showing.
‘He’s very comfortable on the ball, right footed, can create that extra man in midfield by dribbling forward and carrying the ball forward. Very good in his positioning and his passing ability is very accurate and has good technique.’
Watch: Last Word on Football‘s prediction of how Arsenal will line up next season as Mikel Arteta will be looking to go one step further and win the Premier League:
Although used predominately used as central defender in Amsterdam, Mikel Arteta has other plans for the versatile defender. Able to play as either a centre back or right back, Timber is seen as a player who can offer competition for Ben White and cover at centre back. His technical ability should also allow him to advance into midfield and operate as the right-sided inverted full back – similar to how Oleksandr Zinchenko plays on the left.
Stam believes the 22-year-old will fit in well at Arsenal and will be ‘very successful’ with the North London club and thinks he is ‘ready to make the next step’ and is ‘eager to play on a different stage’.
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Capped 15 times for the Netherlands, Timber joins on a five-year-deal and the Daily Mail reports that he will earn £90k-a-week at the Emirates, with playing incentives that could see the sum reach up to 120k.
In terms of the immediate outlay for Arsenal, Sky Sports is reporting a transfer fee of £34 million will be paid upfront for Timber with add ons taking the fee to around £38 million.
This would take Arsenal’s current spending to just over £100 million after the acquisition of Kai Havertz for £65 million and would see the spend a staggering £200 million on three players once Rice’s £100+ million transfer goes through.
Timber will be officially unveiled at the weekend but has already expressed his love for Arsenal in an interview on the club’s website.
