The 22-year-old midfielder, who has been managing a recurring dislocation in his left shoulder since November 2023, will miss all of Madrid’s pre-season and the opening six weeks of the new LaLiga campaign. The timeline also rules him out of England’s September World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.
Bellingham first suffered the injury in a league match against Rayo Vallecano and played the remainder of the season with heavy strapping on his shoulder. In June, he admitted he was “tired of playing with the sling” and hinted at the need for a long-term solution.
Real Madrid issued a statement confirming the procedure:
“Our player Jude Bellingham has undergone successful surgery for a recurrent left shoulder dislocation. He will now begin a period of rehabilitation prior to his return to recovery work.”
The surgery was scheduled following Madrid’s Club World Cup campaign in the United States, which ended in a semi-final loss to Paris Saint-Germain last week.
Newly appointed manager Xabi Alonso will begin his tenure without Bellingham, as Real Madrid prepare to kick off their 2025/26 LaLiga season at home against Osasuna on 19 August.
Bellingham joined Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in 2023 for £115 million and made an immediate impact, scoring 23 goals in 43 matches in his debut season to help secure both the LaLiga and UEFA Champions League titles.
This past season, he netted 15 goals in 58 appearances, though Madrid finished behind Barcelona in the league and were eliminated by Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals.
While the surgery is a temporary setback, resolving the issue could be critical for Bellingham as he looks to continue his rise at both club and international level in the seasons ahead.