Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has successfully undergone surgery to repair a recurring dislocation in his left shoulder—a nagging injury he’s been battling since November 2023, nearly 20 months ago.
The procedure was performed Wednesday at a hospital in London by Drs. Manuel Leyes and Andrew Wallace, under the supervision of Real Madrid’s medical team. According to the club’s official statement, Bellingham will now begin a rehabilitation period before resuming recovery work. It is estimated that he will be sidelined for a period of between 10 to 12 weeks. Jude will miss the first 10 games of the new season, which kicks off on 17 August.
Bellingham spent 20 months suffering in silence
The decision to operate wasn’t taken suddenly—it had been in the works for weeks. The Real Madrid midfielder had long planned to go under the knife after the conclusion of the recent Club World Cup, hoping to end a very painful 20-month ordeal.
Despite the pain, Bellingham continued to play, wearing a bulky protective brace in every match. But after Madrid’s June 22 win over Pachuca, he made it clear the time had come. “I’ve had surgery scheduled for after the tournament,” he said. “I’ve waited a long time and my patience is running out. The doctors and physios have been incredible, helping me every game. But I just want to feel free again”.
Surgery comes after an extraordinary stretch of resilience. The Real Madrid and England star played 100 matches—86 for Madrid and 14 for the national team—while battling through the pain barrier. He postponed the procedure for nearly two years to avoid disrupting his club and country’s packed schedules, which included back-to-back summers with little rest: the Euro 2024 final with England last year and the Club World Cup semifinals with Madrid this June.
Jude Bellingham’s long battle with his shoulder injury traces back to November 5, 2023, during a La Liga clash against Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabéu. Riding high with 13 goals in his first 13 matches for Real Madrid, the English midfielder was in peak form—until a routine chest control early in the game led to a sudden fall and a sharp “clack” that signaled a dislocation in his left shoulder2.
Medical staff reset the joint on the spot, but the damage was done. Bellingham missed two matches for Madrid and two international fixtures that month.
Bellingham likely to miss the Madrid derby on 28 September
Bellingham’s shoulder surgery will sideline him for up to 10 matches, mostly likely including the Madrid derby against Atlético at the Metropolitano on 28 September. With Real Madrid’s La Liga opener just 34 days away, the English midfielder’s absence looms large over the early season.
Still, Xabi Alonso remains unwavering in his belief that Bellingham will be a cornerstone of the squad once he returns. “He’s a special player who will be fundamental,” the coach declared during his official unveiling. That sentiment only grew stronger during Madrid’s Club World Cup campaign in the United States, where Alonso praised Bellingham’s midfield mastery: “I love what he does in the center of the pitch and how he’s involved in every play. He has incredible quality. We always try to stay close to him—he’s got tremendous ambition.”
Which games will Bellingham miss?
Whichever way you look at it, Jude will be absent just when Madrid will be trying to get the new campaign off to the best possible start. At club level, he’ll miss at least six to seven matches, including LaLiga and Champions League fixtures. With the national team, he will sit out both of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Andorra on September 6 and Serbia in Belgrade three days later.
In the best-case scenario, there is a slim chance he could be back in time for the Madrid derby on September 28, which falls on the back of a busy week that also includes a midweek trip to Levante.
As for the worst-case scenario, Jude’s return may be delayed until after the October international break, pushing his comeback to mid-October and ruling him out of eight La Liga games and two Champions League group stage matches.
The silver lining? He should be fit for El Clásico at the Bernabéu, scheduled for October 25–26.
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