Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is expected to be out of action for up to 12 weeks after undergoing surgery on a persistent shoulder injury, the club confirmed on Wednesday.
In an official statement, the Spanish giants announced: “Our player Jude Bellingham has undergone successful surgery for a recurrent dislocation of his left shoulder. He will now begin a period of rehabilitation before resuming training.”
Though Real Madrid did not give a specific timeline for his return, Spanish media reports suggest the England international could be sidelined for around three months.
Bellingham, 22, has been managing the injury since dislocating his shoulder during a La Liga fixture in November 2023. He continued playing with a shoulder brace concealed beneath his jersey, delaying surgery until after Madrid’s Club World Cup campaign this summer.
“I’ve reached the point where I’m just fed up with the brace, constantly adjusting it, having other players tug at it. It’s time to fix it properly,” Bellingham said during the tournament.
As a result of the surgery, Bellingham will miss several key fixtures, including the La Liga derby against Atletico Madrid in late September and the first two group-stage matches of the UEFA Champions League. He has also been ruled out of England’s World Cup qualifying matches against Andorra and Serbia on September 6 and 9.
The midfielder is expected to return in time for El Clásico, when Real Madrid host Barcelona in late October.
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