Andrea Berta is approaching his second transfer window as Arsenal’s sporting director, but Emirates bosses are keen to seal a deal with a current player before the start of the season.
Arsenal are confident Julian Timber will sign a new contract following positive negotiations led by Andrea Berta. The Gunners have offered new contracts to a number of key players over the past six months as they look to the team’s future.
Centre-back duo Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba have both extended their stays, as have academy products Ethan Nwaneri and Miles Lewis-Skelly. Timber, 24, is Arsenal’s first-choice right-back position and has also been central to an injury-hit defense in recent weeks.
The Dutchman’s reliability at the back and frequent contributions in attack have made him a key cog in Mikel Arteta’s system. Timber’s current contract does not expire until 2028, but new terms are expected to be provided.
The Sun reports that Gunners sporting director Berta is leading the negotiations, which began earlier this season. Timber’s regular right-sided partner Bukayo Saka is also in contract negotiations with Arsenal, with 18 months remaining on his contract.
Timber joined Arsenal from Ajax in 2023 in a deal worth up to £38 million. Although he missed almost the entire first season due to a serious knee injury, the Dutch international has continued to shine since his return.
read more: Carabao Cup semi-final draw, Arsenal, Newcastle, Chelsea look for path to Wembleyread more: UEFA imposes sanction for three rule violations during Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich
Arteta is a big fan of Timber, saying in October: “The way he’s come back and what he’s doing for the team is phenomenal. I think he’s a really good example of a player who will have a long career with us.”
“I rate him highly. I don’t know how people rate him, but I hope they rate him high because when you’re talking about a player as a whole, he has almost every quality you want in a defender.”
He himself has lofty ambitions at Emirates. “I think we’ve shown in the last few years that we’re always going to fight for the title,” Timber said earlier this season.
Is Julian Timber the best right-back in the Premier League? Let us know your choice in the comments section.
“We try to strengthen our team every year, even in the summer. We have a great group, a group that can do great things. That’s what we strive for.”
“We’re going to try to give it our all and this season will be no different. You can see we’re getting close. It’s just the last step, right? There’s nothing we can do but just fight for it and get to the end.
“I think we have the right manager, we have the right team, we have the right club. That’s why everyone is so excited about the restart and giving it their all, because we know we have a chance.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive Mirror Football content every day. Community members also receive special offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can always check out. If you are interested, please read our privacy notice.
Sky Sports Premier League and EFL package discounts
£43
£35
sky
Get the deal here
Sky has reduced the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 on their bill and offering more than 1,400 live matches from the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will broadcast at least 215 live Premier League matches next season, with an increase of up to 100 more.
