Jurrien Timber is Arsenal’s second signing this summer after his £38.5million move from Ajax was officially announced – and the 22-year-old only had eyes for the Gunners
Jurrien Timber has revealed his motivations for leaving Ajax to join Mikel Arteta’s project at Arsenal this summer.
Timber signed a five-year deal with the Gunners after agreeing to pay Ajax £38.5million for his signing. He was announced on Friday afternoon and is the second transfer window signing after Kai Havertz and ahead of Declan Rice.
The 22-year-old has taken the number 12 shirt at his new club and is used by Arteta in central defense and at right-back. Timber was previously linked with Manchester United due to Erik ten Hag’s presence at Old Trafford, but moved to north London instead.
“I’ve always been an Arsenal fan,” he told the club’s website. “It was to my brothers. They were always Arsenal fans and I loved watching Arsenal play. They had great players, their way of playing, their style. I love the club.
“I had it from a young age, but my brothers put it in me. Obviously I really enjoyed watching Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry. They were my favorite players.”
He added: “I like the way Arsenal play, it’s a bit like the Ajax style and I like playing from behind. I see a lot of similarities, especially in the way Arsenal and Ajax want to play.” play”.
Despite his young age, Timber is already an established name at club and international level. He played 34 Eredivisie games for Ajax last season and won 15 international games for the Netherlands.
Arrived in the Ajax youth team, he is technically in good order and very good with the ball. He completed 2,501 passes – 902 of them forwards – in the Eredivisie last season, both finishing first in the division.
He has never hidden his ambition to leave his homeland and become a better player. “A transfer is approaching, so to speak,” he told De Telegraaf in April. There is a lot of concrete interest and I have made agreements with Ajax.
“Last year Ajax asked me to stay at least one more season and extend my contract. As a club boy I did it with love and after the season we will review the situation In the Dutch national team, I often talk to the boys who play football abroad, I want to take this step one day.
That day has now come and he will accompany the Gunners on their pre-season tour of the United States.
Arteta’s side will play the MLS All Stars on July 20 at Audi Field, Washington DC before facing Manchester United on July 22 at MetLife Stadium, New York and Barcelona on July 26 at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles begins.
