One to Watch: Quinten Timber, De Zerbi’s midfield solution
Olympique de Marseille may have sent a statement to the rest of Ligue 1 McDonald’s with their 3-1 victory over RC Lens, but one of the clearest messages came from a new arrival already looking entirely at home in white and blue. Quinten Timber, signed from Feyenoord and unveiled to the press just days earlier, wasted no time announcing himself at the Stade Vélodrome.
A talent shaped in Rotterdam
Born in Utrecht and formed at Ajax’s famed academy, Timber’s journey to the top has been anything but rushed. After leaving Amsterdam to seek first-team football, he found his platform at FC Utrecht, where his combination of athleticism, intelligence and composure quickly stood out in the Eredivisie.
A move to Feyenoord in 2022 followed, and it was in Rotterdam that Timber truly matured. Across four seasons, he made 90 appearances, scored 17 goals and even captained the side under Arne Slot, becoming a leader in one of Europe’s most intense pressing systems. That experience — both tactical and emotional — has proven invaluable as he takes his next step.
Why Marseille, why now?
Timber signed a long-term deal with Marseille until June 2030, and his reasoning was clear from his unveiling press conference. “The club speaks for itself,” he said. “I spoke with Roberto De Zerbi and the feeling was really good.”
De Zerbi’s influence was decisive. Timber is a midfielder schooled in structure, automatisms and positional discipline — concepts central to the Italian coach’s philosophy. “The coach has a really clear structure about how he wants to play. I grew up with that in my youth teams — it’s all I’ve known,” Timber explained.
Watch: Marseille beat lens to knock leaders off perch
Instant impact at the Vélodrome
Thrown straight into the deep end against league leaders Lens, Timber delivered a debut that suggested Marseille may have found exactly what they were missing. In 75 minutes, the Dutchman offered balance, intensity and intelligence, operating as a true box-to-box presence.
Marseille’s midfield diamond caused Lens constant problems, and Timber was the connective tissue, shuttling between phases, disrupting opposition build-up and progressing the ball with authority. His physical presence allowed Pierre-Emile Højbjerg greater freedom, while his comfort on the ball ensured OM never lost control centrally.
Rated 7 by Get French Football News, Timber earned praise across the French press, with L’Équipe highlighting his aggression and determination, and La Provence noting his immediate personality in possession.
Despite limited time on the training pitch, De Zerbi did not hesitate to start the Dutchman against Lens — and was rewarded for that faith.
“The new players adapted very well,” De Zerbi said in his post-match press conference. “We play every three days and needed to change something. Nwaneri and Timber are so strong that they don’t need many training sessions.”
Timber won't be involved in OM's trip to Club Brugge this week in the Champions League, but he'll be back in the sqaud as Les Olympiens hope to get back to Ligue 1 McDonald's action with a win.
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