Dortmund’s decision explained: Why acquire Jobe Bellingham?
Borussia Dortmund has officially agreed to a deal with Sunderland to sign 19-year-old midfielder Jobe Bellingham for up to £31m, making him Sunderland’s most expensive sale to date. The transfer includes an initial £26.96m fee plus £4.2m in add-ons.
Following the footsteps of his brother
Jobe's move to Dortmund closely mirrors the path of his older brother Jude Bellingham. They are both from Birmingham City’s youth system and have secured transfers to the Bundesliga elite teams.
Jude joined Dortmund at 17, later becoming Bundesliga Player of the Season before moving to Real Madrid. Now, Jobe takes on the same challenge, wearing his first name on his shirt to carve out his own legacy without carrying his brother’s hard-earned fame.
Bellingham’s performance
In an interview, he said he loves playing as a box-to-box midfielder because he can maximise his potential in this position. This fits his role as he is an agile and aggressive player, and his versatility as an athlete allows him to take on the role better.
Jobe made a strong impression at Sunderland, helping the team win promotion to the Premier League in the 2024–25 season. He made 43 appearances, scored four goals, and provided three assists for the team. He was also awarded the Championship’s Young Player of the Year this May.
Upcoming match preparations
If Bellingham’s move is completed on time, he could play in the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States, from 14 June to 13 July. Dortmund was placed in the Group F alongside teams like Fluminense, Ulsan HD, and Mamelodi Sundowns.
His brother Jude, currently playing for Real Madrid, is in Group H. Because they’re in different groups, there’s a chance that a brother vs. brother faceoff will happen in the quarter finals.
The young star’s potential
Jobe has already shown his determination and adaptability. His skills were noticed by the current Sunderland boss, Regis le Bris, and he said, ‘I like him as a number eight because he's an offensive midfielder. He can express his power, his ability to run and his ability to press, to link defence and attack.’
Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini also believes this transfer is the right step forward for the young star. ‘It’s a way of stepping up, maybe with a little less pressure,’ he said.
Did Dortmund make the right call?
Yes. Dortmund made the right call by acquiring Jobe Bellingham as one of their primary players on the roster. His current skills may not be as good as his brother, Jude Bellingham, but his progress towards being a better player is moving fast.
Even though the transfer set back the team more than £30 million, they just spent their money on one of their best investments.
