Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham undergoes shoulder surgery after months of playing strapped up, with midfielder set to miss start of season

Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has undergone a successful surgery on his shoulder and is expected to miss the start of the upcoming season.

Bellingham had been suffering with a shoulder problem since falling awkwardly and dislocating it during a LaLiga match against Rayo Vallecano in November 2023.

He delayed going under the knife and was forced to play with his shoulder heavily strapped to prevent extra injury - and told reporters last month that he was 'tired of playing with the sling'.

The club said in a brief statement that Bellingham needed surgery 'to address recurrent dislocation of his left shoulder.' The procedure was 'successful,' it added.

'Bellingham will now undergo a period of rehabilitation, prior to returning to training and starting his recovery,' the club's statement said.

Madrid did not say for how long Bellingham will be sidelined, but Spanish media reported he could be out two to three months.

Madrid opens its La Liga campaign on Aug. 19 against Osasuna. He is also expected to miss some Champions League games and likely England's World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia in September.

Bellingham played at the Club World Cup in finishing his second season with Madrid after joining from Borussia Dortmund. 

The former Birmingham midfielder netted 15 goals in 58 appearances last season, as Madrid missed out on the league title to Barcelona and were eliminated from the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Arsenal.