Jude Bellingham finally undergoes surgery on recurrent dislocated shoulder injury as Real Madrid confirm successful procedure for England star ahead of long layoff

Jude Bellingham Real Madrid 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

Jude Bellingham has taken a decisive step in his ongoing battle with a shoulder injury by undergoing surgery to correct a recurring dislocation. The Real Madrid midfielder had been dealing with the issue since late 2023, often seen with heavy strapping on his shoulder as he played through discomfort.

WHAT HAPPENED?

According to medical assessments, Bellingham will need between 10 and 12 weeks to fully recover and return to competitive action. During this recovery window, Bellingham will miss a series of La Liga games as well as early fixtures in the UEFA Champions League group stage. For England, his absence will also be felt, as he will not be available for the Three Lions' FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Andorra, Serbia, and Latvia spread across the September and October international windows.

Jude Bellingham Real Madrid

WHAT REAL MADRID SAID

Real Madrid released an official statement confirming the successful outcome of the surgery, which read: "Our player Jude Bellingham has successfully undergone surgery for a recurrent dislocation of his left shoulder. The operation was performed by Drs. Manuel Leyes and Andrew Wallace, under the supervision of the Real Madrid Medical Services. Bellingham now begins a period of rehabilitation prior to his return to recovery work."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The root of the problem dates back to a La Liga encounter against Rayo Vallecano in November 2023. Bellingham dislocated his left shoulder during that match and was subsequently ruled out for four games. While he managed to return to the field thereafter, he was regularly seen wearing a shoulder brace, signalling that the issue had not fully healed.

In the subsequent seasons, Bellingham continued to push through pain barriers, making key appearances for both Real Madrid and the England national team. However, concerns about the long-term impact of continuing without surgical intervention ultimately led to this decision.

Real Madrid CF v Borussia Dortmund: Quarter Final - FIFA Club World Cup 2025

WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID & BELLINGHAM?

Real Madrid will return to action against Osasuna in their La Liga opener on August 19. Bellingham is definitely going to miss the fixture, and the aim is to have him back in time for one of the most anticipated fixtures on the calendar, the El Clasico against Barcelona, scheduled for October 26.