Real Madrid’s young star is finally stepping away from the pitch, at least temporarily. After months of defying medical advice, fighting through pain, and helping deliver trophies on multiple fronts, Jude Bellingham is now scheduled to undergo surgery to repair a nagging shoulder injury that dates back to late 2023. The decision marks the first significant break from competitive play for the 22-year-old since his arrival in the Spanish capital, and it may come at a steep cost for Los Blancos.
But when exactly will Los Blancos fans see their iconic player back on the pitch? The answer is not immediate, and not entirely comforting.
It all started in November 2023, when Bellingham dislocated his shoulder during a goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano. Many expected the midfielder to undergo surgery then, but instead, he chose to power through the pain. He played the rest of the season in a shoulder brace, guiding Real Madrid to victories in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, becoming one of the most important players in the team’s modern history.
That same choice repeated itself again in the summer. After a grueling club season, Bellingham opted to represent England in Euro 2024, helping the Three Lions reach the final. By the time the 2024-25 club season kicked off, the midfielder was still wearing the same brace, still playing, and still ignoring what his body was begging for: rest and recovery.
According to Sport, the player was “wearing a protective support for several months that prevented the head of his humerus bone from slipping out of its socket during matches.” The pain was managed, but never solved.
Long-awaited procedure—And a longer recovery
Now, with Real Madrid’s Club World Cup journey finished—eliminated in the semi-finals by Paris Saint-Germain—the club has finally decided the time is right to pull Bellingham from action. He will undergo arthroscopic surgery in London, a minimally invasive procedure with a high success rate, according to the same source.
“Doctors are planning on repairing Bellingham’s ligaments,” Sport reports, “with scans picking up no damage to his bones.” Still, the midfielder will be immobilized for a full month post-operation and then begin a careful rehabilitation process.
The expected timeline for return is between 10 to 12 weeks, with the optimistic outlook targeting early October, and the more cautious estimate pushing his comeback to mid-November. The Spanish newspaper Marca adds that “he will undoubtedly miss the start of the 2025-26 season.”
That means Bellingham is expected to miss at least eight La Liga matches, including clashes with Osasuna, Mallorca, Real Sociedad, and Atletico Madrid, as well as the beginning of Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League campaign.
If everything goes well, the Englishman could return in time for the match against Villarreal on October 5, Real’s final fixture before the international break. A slightly quicker recovery could see him return even earlier, for the Madrid derby against Atletico on September 28—though this remains speculative at best.
