Jude Bellingham return date revealed after shoulder surgery as Real Madrid midfielder follows 'special recovery plan'

The England international first damaged his shoulder when suffering a dislocation against Rayo Vallecano in November 2023. He was forced to play through pain from that point, with over 100 matches being taken in.

Bellingham was fitted with custom strapping, but the discomfort of that support and taking regular blows to his arm eventually became too much. It was revealed during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup that he was being readied to go under the knife.

Said operation took place on July 16. Bellingham has started his rehabilitation, with an opportunity being taken to relax and unwind during a family vacation in Jamaica. His recovery process is said to be going “slowly”.

According to AS, Bellingham “will be out until at least the end of October”. That is because “this shoulder operation is delicate and requires a lot of rest in the initial stages”. No risks will be taken on the 22-year-old, with it important that he suffers no setbacks.

Bellingham will miss the start of the 2025-26 campaign - as Real take in La Liga and Champions League action and England continue their World Cup qualification campaign - but the expectation is that “the best” version of the all-action midfielder will return once he is back to full fitness.