Borussia Dortmund have reached an agreement with Sunderland to sign highly-rated midfielder Jobe Bellingham, 19, in a deal worth an initial €32 million (£26.96m) plus €5 million (£4.2m) in add-ons.
The move sees Bellingham follow directly in the footsteps of his elder brother, Jude, who also honed his talents at the German club before his high-profile transfer to Real Madrid.
The transfer is a significant coup for Dortmund, who fended off interest from across Europe for the England youth international.
Bellingham has been a standout performer for Sunderland since joining in 2023, playing a pivotal role in their Premier League promotion this past season with 43 appearances and four goals across all competitions.
Bellingham’s career trajectory is strikingly similar to that of his two-years-senior brother, Jude. Both began their professional journeys at Birmingham City’s academy before making the switch to Dortmund.
Jobe’s recent recognition as the Championship’s Young Player of the Year in May, five years after Jude received the same award, further underscores this remarkable parallel.
The family connection extends beyond the playing field, with Daniel Dodds, Borussia Dortmund’s UK scout and brother of Wycombe Wanderers boss Mike Dodds, believed to have played a role in facilitating the transfer.
Mike Dodds, who worked with both Bellingham brothers at Birmingham City and was part of the coaching staff at Sunderland when Jobe arrived, has previously lauded Jobe’s potential.
“I think he can go to the very top,” Mike Dodds told the Northern Echo in 2023. “Both brothers have a very similar mindset in terms of their relentlessness in their pursuit of where they want to get to.”
The signing comes after an inconsistent 2024-25 season for Borussia Dortmund, though they finished strongly, winning their final five matches to secure a fourth-place finish and a coveted spot in next season’s Champions League.
If the deal is formally completed by June 10, Bellingham will be eligible to participate in the upcoming Club World Cup, scheduled to take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13.
While Bellingham has also been named in England’s European Under-21 Championship squad, England boss Lee Carsley has indicated he will release players to allow them to compete in the Club World Cup.
