New signing Jurrien Timber admits he’s always been an Arsenal fan

Arsenal finally announced Dutch defender Jurrien Timber as their newest recruit on Friday afternoon.

The drawn-out unveiling, believed to have been delayed by a minor contract issue, appeased many supporters after a deal that could be worth up to €45m was agreed with Ajax earlier this month. Timber has joined the club on a five-year deal.

The defender isn’t expected to emerge as a starter in north London right away, but he’ll add quality depth to Mikel Arteta’s backline as his side prepare to compete in the Champions League next season. Despite his youth, Timber has already acquired a ton of experience in Europe’s premier club competition.

Keen to get to work with his new signing, Arteta described Timber to arsenal.com as a “versatile young defender” who’ll supply his squad with “so much added quality”. The Dutchman certainly is a shrewd addition, especially for the price the Gunners paid.

New signing Jurrien Timber admits he’s always been an Arsenal fan

Timber has been confirmed as the club’s new number 12 – the number worn by William Saliba last season before his switch to #2 – and the Dutchman cannot wait to get started at his new home.

The new arrival, who grew up watching the likes of Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry, admitted during his first interview that “he’s always been a fan of Arsenal”.

Explaining his love of the club, the 22-year-old said: “It was because of my brothers. They were always Arsenal fans, and I just loved seeing Arsenal play. They had big players, the way they played, the style. I just love the club.”

Timber will follow in the footsteps of Thomas Vermaelen and Marc Overmars (among others) to represent both Ajax and the Gunners, with the defender set to join up with the squad ahead of their pre-season tour to the States. Arsenal will jet across the Atlantic on Sunday afternoon with three friendlies scheduled during their visit.

Overall, the arrival of Timber is a mightily exciting one given his upside and suitability to the system. He’s capable of performing multiple roles within Arteta’s framework, and there’s no doubt his addition will have a couple of members in the club’s current backline looking over their shoulders.