Bellingham to Miss Season’s Start After Surgery

Jude Bellingham won’t feature for Real Madrid at the start of their La Liga campaign after undergoing surgery to correct a persistent shoulder issue that’s plagued him since late 2023.

The club confirmed the midfielder will sit out the entirety of pre-season and, at minimum, the opening six weeks of the new season. That timeline puts him out of action for England in their September World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.

Real’s new boss, Xabi Alonso, begins his tenure with a home match versus Osasuna on 19 August. He’ll have to do without Bellingham, who has been receiving regular treatment and playing with strapping since dislocating his shoulder in a clash against Rayo Vallecano last season.

Speaking back in June, Bellingham said he was “tired of playing with the sling”, foreshadowing the decision to proceed with surgery. The operation was planned to follow Real Madrid’s Club World Cup involvement in the United States, where they fell in the semi-final to Paris Saint-Germain.

Now 22, Bellingham sealed a £115m move from Borussia Dortmund to Madrid two summers ago. His debut season delivered silverware—La Liga and the Champions League—as well as 23 goals in 43 outings. Last season, he registered 15 goals across 58 appearances, but Real were beaten to the title by Barcelona and knocked out by Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals.

He’ll begin rehabilitation before returning to team training later in the year.