Jobe Bellingham has officially joined Borussia Dortmund from Sunderland, signing a five-year contract that will keep him at the German club until June 2030. The 19-year-old midfielder’s transfer, completed on June 10, 2025, marks a club-record sale for Sunderland, with Dortmund paying an initial fee believed to be around €32 million (£26.96 million), plus an additional €5 million (£4.2 million) in add-ons. This deal surpasses Sunderland’s previous record sale of Jordan Pickford to Everton in 2017, which was valued at approximately €28.5 million.
Bellingham’s move to Dortmund is especially notable as he follows in the footsteps of his older brother Jude, who also began his career at Birmingham City, made a name for himself at Dortmund, and then moved to Real Madrid in 2023. However, Jobe is determined to carve out his own path at the Bundesliga club. Unlike his brother, he will not have “Bellingham” on the back of his shirt, instead opting to simply wear “Jobe” as he aims to establish his own identity in professional football.
His arrival at Dortmund comes at a pivotal time, with the club preparing for the FIFA Club World Cup starting June 15, 2025, in the United States. Dortmund’s opening group match will be against Brazilian side Fluminense on June 17. The timing of the transfer means that Jobe is eligible to participate in this prestigious tournament, potentially even facing his brother Jude if Dortmund and Real Madrid meet in the later stages.
Born on September 23, 2005, Jobe made his senior debut for Birmingham City at just 16 years and 107 days old, becoming the club’s second-youngest player after Jude. After signing a professional contract with Birmingham City in September 2022 and making 22 Championship appearances, he transferred to Sunderland in 2023. At Sunderland, Jobe quickly became a key figure, playing 90 games over two seasons and helping the Black Cats secure promotion to the Premier League in the 2024-2025 season through the play-offs.
His performances in the Championship have been impressive. During the 2024-2025 campaign, Bellingham played 43 games, clocking 3,777 minutes, scoring four goals, and providing three assists. His shot accuracy was recorded at 9 out of 28, and he completed 1,406 out of 1,641 passes successfully. These statistics highlight his growing influence on the pitch and his versatility, having played in multiple midfield roles, including as a box-to-box midfielder, false nine, and playmaking number 10.
Jobe’s progress has been widely recognized. He was named the Championship Young Player of the Season for 2024-2025 and earned a spot in the Championship Team of the Season. His development has been attributed in part to Sunderland’s manager Régis Le Bris, who took over in summer 2024. Bellingham praised Le Bris, stating, “I realised quite quickly that he was really focused on his work, that he likes to analyse and he gives you a lot of feedback. That’s really good for a player, because you want to know where you are. You want to know – at least I do in any case – how you can improve and become better all the time.”
Le Bris himself has spoken highly of the young midfielder, describing him as an offensive midfielder with the power, running ability, and pressing skills to link defense and attack effectively. He also noted that Jobe has the potential to play in several positions and has already matured significantly despite his young age.
Jobe’s departure from Sunderland was met with heartfelt messages from teammates and fellow professionals. Chris Rigg, Trai Hume, Tommy Watson, and Dan Neil, among others, wished him well on social media. His brother Jude Bellingham and Chelsea star Reece James also reacted warmly to Jobe’s emotional farewell message posted on Instagram, where he expressed pride in his strong relationship with Sunderland supporters and promised to always represent Wearside in his career.
The transfer to Dortmund not only signifies a major step in Jobe’s career but also provides Sunderland with a significant financial boost. The deal reportedly includes a 15 percent sell-on clause, meaning Sunderland will benefit from any future transfer fees Dortmund may receive for Jobe. This is a savvy move by Sunderland, as it could result in substantial revenue if Jobe continues to develop and attract interest from top clubs.
At Dortmund, Jobe will wear the number 77 jersey, a nod to the number seven he wore at Sunderland. The club’s managing director, Lars Ricken, expressed confidence in Jobe’s abilities, calling him “an exceptionally talented player who, despite his young age, already possesses remarkable maturity and intelligence.” Dortmund’s chief Sebastian Kehl echoed this sentiment, praising Jobe’s leadership qualities and charisma in central midfield, and emphasizing that the club is pleased to have completed the transfer ahead of the Club World Cup.
While Jobe’s brother Jude has already established himself as a star at Real Madrid and England’s senior team, comparisons between the two are inevitable. However, Jobe’s statistics suggest a promising trajectory. His pass completion rate in the 2024-2025 Championship season was 12.6 percent higher than Jude’s final season in England, with a 4.6 percent higher duel success rate and a 1.7 percent better dribble success rate. These numbers indicate that Jobe is not just following in Jude’s footsteps but is forging his own path with considerable skill and determination.
Despite Sunderland’s promotion to the Premier League, the lure of Champions League football was too strong for Jobe to resist. Dortmund secured the final Champions League spot in the Bundesliga, finishing fourth behind a dominant Bayern Munich. For Jobe, the chance to test himself against Europe’s elite at such a young age is a compelling opportunity that promises to accelerate his development.
As Jobe prepares to don the black and yellow jersey of Borussia Dortmund, all eyes will be on him to see how he adapts to the demands of top-tier European football. His journey from Birmingham City’s academy to the Bundesliga is a testament to his talent and hard work. Now, with the weight of expectations and the legacy of his brother looming, Jobe Bellingham is ready to make his own mark on the beautiful game.
