Arsenal agree £40.5m deal for Ajax’s Jurrien Timber

Arsenal and Ajax have verbally agreed on a fee of £36.5million rising to £40.5m for Jurrien Timber.

Mikel Arteta’s side made an improved offer for the highly-rated Dutch defender on Monday, after their initial £30m bid was rebuffed last week. 

Ajax were thought to value their academy product at £50m, but the 22-year-old’s desire to move meant both clubs were keen to come to an agreement. 

The north London club’s other two priority targets – Kai Havertz and Declan Rice – were secured over the last few days as Arteta looks to complete the club’s major deals in advance of pre-season, which is set to start in next week. 

Arsenal’s wholesale revamp comes on the heels of an impressive Premier League title charge that faltered at the last, with the Spanish manager keen to have another chance taking on the league’s big beasts Manchester City next season. 

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has been working efficiently before the start of pre-season

Arteta’s squad will also have to contend with Champions League football for the first time since their 2016-17 campaign after finishing second in the table. 

Bayern Munich were considered Arsenal’s primary rivals competing for Timber’s signature, but interest from the Bundesliga fell away late last week in the face of the strength of Arsenal’s bid. 

The club and their future player are believed to held talks in London ahead of the FA Cup final at the start of the month, and Timber himself is thought to have told the Ajax hierarchy that his sights were set on the Emirates ahead of the deal going forward. 

Timber (right) flourished under Erik ten Hag but chose not to follow him to Manchester United

Timber was heavily linked with Manchester United last summer after his former manager, Erik ten Hag, moved to Old Trafford from Ajax at the close of the 2021-22 season. 

But despite the Red Devils making significant strides towards signing the defender, Timber ultimately rejected the club’s advances. 

The Netherlands international plays a mutable role in defence, comfortable as a centre back or right back, and could come into Arsenal’s starting XI in the wake of possible moves for Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney. 

Tierney has been earmarked for a potential return to former club Celtic – while also attracting interest from Man City and Newcastle – and Holding is believed to be in talks with Turkish Super Lig outfit Besiktas for a loan move.