Real Madrid star midfielder Jude Bellingham is set to miss up to 12 weeks of action following successful surgery on his left shoulder, the club announced on Wednesday.
“Our player Jude Bellingham has undergone successful surgery for a recurrent left shoulder dislocation,” Real Madrid said in a statement.
“Bellingham will now begin a period of rehabilitation prior to his return to recovery work.”
The 22-year-old England international had been managing the injury since dislocating his shoulder during a LaLiga match in November 2023, wearing a brace under his shirt to continue playing.
However, the discomfort persisted, prompting the decision to proceed with surgery after Real Madrid’s participation in the Club World Cup, where Xabi Alonso’s side reached the semi-finals.
Speaking during the tournament, Bellingham admitted: “I’ve got to the point where… I’m fed up with the brace, and having to tug on it and having (other) players tug on it, and it rearranging all the time.”
The midfielder will miss several key fixtures, including Real Madrid’s LaLiga clash against Atletico Madrid in late September and the first two matches of their UEFA Champions League campaign. He is also expected to miss England’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia scheduled for September 6 and 9, respectively.
Despite the setback, Bellingham is likely to return in time for the season’s first El Clasico when Real Madrid host Barcelona in late October.