There’s no doubt Borussia Dortmund have made waves this season under coach Niko Kovac, but not every story coming out of Signal Iduna Park is one of triumph. While the team has displayed a newfound consistency and sits in a strong position in the Bundesliga, the spotlight has swung onto one player in particular: Jobe Bellingham. The 20-year-old English midfielder, acquired for a hefty €30 million from Sunderland this past summer, has found his early months in Germany anything but smooth sailing.
Much was expected when Dortmund signed Bellingham, especially given the legacy of his older brother, Jude, who previously starred for the club before moving to Real Madrid in a blockbuster deal. Sporting director Lars Ricken was effusive at the time of Jobe’s signing, stating, “Jobe is an exceptionally talented player who, despite his young age, already has remarkable maturity and intelligence of play. We are convinced that he corresponds perfectly to our philosophy of promoting young talents and giving them the opportunity to develop at the highest level. His professionalism, his dynamism and his ambition will enrich our team. We look forward to supporting him in his future adventure and are sure that he will play an important role in the future of Borussia Dortmund.”
But as autumn sweeps into October, the narrative around Bellingham has shifted. The midfielder has featured in eight matches across all competitions, logging just 281 minutes, and has started only three times—twice in the Bundesliga and once in the Champions League. His stat sheet remains blank, with no goals or assists to his name. In a club known for giving young talents a platform, these numbers raise eyebrows.
Perhaps the most stinging critique came from former Bayern Munich star Dietmar Hamann, who, in his column for Sky Sport, labeled Bellingham as the “only problem child” at Dortmund. “The momentum Niko Kovac has brought to the table is truly impressive. Finally, consistency. The whole team is finally working for the win. I don’t think they’ll be able to keep up with Munich until the end, because Bayern seem to be able to step up a gear when necessary,” Hamann wrote. “But BVB’s development is really good. Just imagine if they had even won the games in Turin and at St. Pauli. Then they’d be on Bayern’s level. The only cause for concern seems to be Jobe Bellingham. Young, expensive and, so far, not even half as good as Jude Bellingham. It’s not getting any easier for him.”
Such public criticism would be tough for any young player to digest, but Bellingham’s challenges don’t end on the pitch. Off-field, the pressure cooker is just as intense. Reports have surfaced that his father and advisor, Mark Bellingham, has been vocally dissatisfied with his son’s playing time. The situation boiled over in August following a 3-3 draw with St. Pauli, when Mark entered the club’s changing room to confront sporting director Sebastian Kehl and coach Niko Kovac. The fallout was swift: a ban on family members and advisors from the team’s activity areas, with Kehl making it clear, “The activity area is and remains reserved for players, coaches and supervision, and not for families and advisers. This will not happen again. We have clearly informed all the people concerned.”
Though the club publicly downplayed any lasting rift, the tension hasn’t dissipated. German media, including Bild, reports that Mark Bellingham remains unhappy and continues to press Kovac about his son’s role. The midfielder, meanwhile, finds himself caught between high expectations, the shadow of his brother’s success, and the ongoing scrutiny of his family’s involvement. According to Bild, “There is a dangerous tension around the family, which currently causes Jobe a feeling of massive insecurity and puts it under pressure.”
On the training ground at Brackel, there’s reportedly no issue with Bellingham’s work ethic. Yet, breaking into the starting lineup has proven difficult, with Kovac preferring established midfielders like Felix Nmecha, Pascal Groß, and Marcel Sabitzer. In attack, Maximilian Beier and Karim Adeyemi flank Serhou Guirassy, making the path to regular minutes even steeper for the young Englishman.
Even when given opportunities, Bellingham has struggled to impress. In Dortmund’s recent 4-1 Champions League victory over Athletic Club, he was handed a rare start but substituted after 69 minutes following an unconvincing display. The German press was unsparing, with Bild noting, “After eight official matches of the new season, his record is (still) disappointing: Bellingham was not five times. In total, 281 minutes played – no goal, no assist. And in addition, his own father keeps doing stories. Even during his first tenure in the Champions League against Bilbao (4-1) Wednesday evening, Bellingham (Bild note: 4) did not really manage to stand out. Strong in one against one, low in passes, too much time lost, too many ball losses – Jobe still often appears as an element foreign to the BVB game. Consequence: a replacement in the 69th minute, when the victory of the BVB briefly weakened.”
Despite the criticism, coach Niko Kovac has moved to shield his young midfielder from the harshest blows. After the Champions League outing, Kovac said, “Sure, he made one or two bad passes. But the boy is 20, and there’s a lot of nervousness. I was very pleased with his performance.” The message is clear: development is a process, and Kovac is determined not to let outside noise dictate his decisions. He’s also made it clear to the squad that playing time is earned on merit, not on reputation or family name.
Journalists like Luca Hansen from Fussball Transfer echo this sentiment, observing that while Bellingham’s transfer fee and pedigree bring heightened expectations, he’s still adjusting to the demands of top-flight football. “For the moment, Kovac seems to prefer Sabitzer and Nmecha in duet. Bellingham is correct for the moment, but nothing exceptional. It’s a good transfer, but it takes time. Of course, the two parties should have greater hopes given the amount. But he only played in second division before, so he needs time.”
There’s no question the pressure is mounting. The family’s ongoing involvement, the weight of a €30 million move, and the relentless comparisons to Jude have created a crucible few players would envy. Yet, the club’s philosophy remains rooted in patience and development. Sporting director Lars Ricken’s words still ring true: Dortmund believe in nurturing young talent, even when the path is rocky.
With a crucial Bundesliga clash against RB Leipzig on the horizon, the coming weeks will be telling for Bellingham. Will he rise to the occasion and prove his doubters wrong, or will the pressure continue to mount? One thing’s for sure: all eyes will be on the young Englishman as Dortmund’s season unfolds.
