Arsenal Jurrien Timber’s surgery clears path to Spain camp

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has undergone minor surgery on a groin injury this summer and is now targeting involvement in Arsenal’s pre‑season programme in Spain, hoping the operation will enable him to contribute as the club heads to its training camp in Girona.

Matt Verri, writing for The Standard, confirmed the procedure was minor and specifically addressed the groin problem, adding that the surgery was intended to clear the way for Timber’s return to full training. He emphasized that the operation posed no major risk to the defender’s long‑term fitness.

A photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images accompanies the story, confirming the source of the visual material used in the report. The image shows Timber’s profile as he prepares for rehabilitation.

Verri notes the defender is still completing his rehabilitation, but club officials are optimistic he will feature in some pre‑season fixtures, with the aim of regaining full fitness before the Premier League campaign begins. They expect his involvement to bolster the right‑back options early in the season.

Timber has travelled with the Arsenal squad to Spain for their training camp in Girona, yet he has not joined the group sessions, instead conducting individual work in the gym to progress his recovery. His personal regimen focuses on strengthening the injured area while maintaining overall conditioning.

Consequently, the right‑back was not involved in Arsenal’s behind‑closed‑doors friendly against MK Dons over the weekend, a match captured in a photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images without his presence. The club used the fixture to assess other defensive options.

Timber was initially called up for the summer World Cup by the Netherlands but withdrew at the last minute; the national team released a statement saying the 24‑year‑old defender had not recovered sufficiently from his groin injury to take part in a medically responsible manner. His withdrawal underscored the seriousness of the injury.

The surgery, performed before the 2026/27 campaign, is intended to prevent further setbacks and enable Timber to play regularly, with the club hoping the operation will now allow him to stay fit throughout the season. Management view the procedure as a proactive measure for squad stability.

Timber featured 44 times for Arsenal in the 2025/26 season, the majority of appearances occurring before mid‑March. He missed the entire Premier League run‑in, the League Cup final, the FA Cup quarter‑final elimination, and five Champions League knockout games, a period illustrated by a photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images.

The hope is that the surgery will prove successful before the new Premier League season starts next month, giving Arsenal a fully fit right‑back for the upcoming campaign. Fans and staff alike look forward to his return to the starting lineup.