Jurrien Timber: Arsenal confirm signing of Ajax defender

English Premier League side Arsenal have completed the signing of defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax for a fee of £34m.

The deal, which could rise to £38.5m, was announced on Friday after the Dutchman agreed to join the North London club on a five-year contract.

He joins an Arsenal side looking to build on their second-place last season when Mikel Arteta led the Gunners to their best finish since the 2015/16 season under Arsene Wenger.

The 22-year-old is a product of Ajax's academy, which he joined in 2014, and after making his senior debut in March 2020, he went on to make 121 appearances for the Eredivisie club.

Timber, a centre-back who can also be deployed at right-back, will wear the number 12 shirt.

His signing follows that of Kai Havertz, who joined from local rivals Chelsea last month, with Declan Rice's club-record £105m move from West Ham also imminent.