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.