Jude Bellingham

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8 Mar 2024

Jude Bellingham

Jude Bellingham, born on 29 June 2003, is an English professional footballer acclaimed for his midfield prowess. As of the provided information cutoff date in January 2022, Bellingham plays for La Liga club Real Madrid and represents the England national team.Bellingham's football journey began with Birmingham City, where he joined as an under-8 player. His talent quickly became evident, and he made history by becoming Birmingham City's youngest first-team player when he debuted in August 2019 at the age of 16 years and 38 days. Throughout the 2019–20 season, Bellingham played regularly for Birmingham City, showcasing his skills on the field.

Bellingham made a high-profile move to Borussia Dortmund. His impact was immediate, as he became the youngest goalscorer for the club in his first appearance. Over three seasons with Borussia Dortmund, he made 132 appearances and played a crucial role in their victory in the 2020–21 DFB-Pokal. Bellingham's standout performances in the 2022–23 season contributed to Dortmund's runner-up finish, and he received the prestigious Bundesliga Player of the Season award.

Bellingham made a significant transfer to Real Madrid, with the Spanish club paying a fee of €103 million to acquire his services.On the international stage, Bellingham represented England at various youth levels, including under-15, under-16, under-17, and under-21. He made his senior debut for the England national team in November 2020. Bellingham continued to make significant contributions, representing England at UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.In 2023, Bellingham achieved notable recognition by winning both the Golden Boy award and the Kopa Trophy, acknowledging his exceptional talent and impact in the world of football. He is widely regarded as one of the best players globally.

Jude Bellingham's early football journey started when he joined Birmingham City as an under-8 player, following his time with Stourbridge. His talent quickly became apparent, and he progressed through the ranks, playing for Birmingham City's under-18 team at the age of 14. Bellingham made his debut for the under-23 team at the age of 15, scoring a crucial goal in October 2018.

He had three goals from ten development squad appearances and had already garnered attention from major European clubs. Bellingham's introduction to the first-team environment was gradual, with increased involvement in training sessions and matchday observations.

Bellingham commenced a two-year scholarship with Birmingham City. He participated in the first-team training camp in Portugal, played and scored in pre-season friendlies, and was assigned squad number 22 for the 2019–20 season. On 6 August 2019, he started the EFL Cup first-round match against Portsmouth, becoming Birmingham City's youngest first-team player at the age of 16 years and 38 days. Bellingham played a significant role in the team, earning praise and the Birmingham Mail's man of the match in his debut.
He continued to make notable contributions, scoring his first goal for Birmingham City in a 2–1 win against Stoke City, becoming the club's youngest goalscorer at the age of 16 years and 63 days. Bellingham became a regular in the starting eleven, showcasing versatility by playing on the left wing, central midfield, and an advanced role. He was named EFL Young Player of the Month for November 2019.

Despite transfer speculations and reported interest from major clubs, Bellingham remained with Birmingham City, finishing the season with four goals from 44 appearances in all competitions. He played a crucial role in helping Birmingham City avoid relegation.
In recognition of his achievements, Birmingham City announced the retirement of Bellingham's number 22 shirt, considering it a tribute to "remember one of our own and to inspire others." At the EFL Awards, he was honored as both Championship Apprentice of the Year and EFL Young Player of the Season.

Borussia Dortmund

2020–2021: Transfer and record-breaking achievements

Amid widespread speculation about Jude Bellingham's future, with reported interest from various major clubs, including Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham ultimately chose Dortmund as his preferred destination. The decision was influenced by Dortmund's track record of integrating young players into the first team, as seen with players like Jadon Sancho. Bellingham's transfer to Borussia Dortmund was officially confirmed on 20 July 2020.

The transfer fee, though undisclosed, was reported by Sky Sports to be an initial £25 million, making him the most expensive 17-year-old in history, with additional payments based on performance-related criteria. Bellingham joined Borussia Dortmund after completing Birmingham's last match of the season.

Bellingham wasted no time making an impact at Borussia Dortmund. On 14 September 2020, at the age of 17 years and 77 days, he started the first match of the 2020–21 season against MSV Duisburg in the DFB-Pokal. After half an hour, he scored the second goal in a 5–0 win, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the DFB-Pokal and the youngest scorer in any competitive match in the club's history. He continued to impress, contributing with assists and earning the Bundesliga Rookie of the Month award for September.

Notably, Bellingham set a record as the youngest Englishman to start a UEFA Champions League match on 20 October, breaking Phil Foden's previous record. Throughout the season, he became a regular starter, making notable contributions in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League. Bellingham scored his first Champions League goal against Manchester City and later netted his maiden Bundesliga goal in a match against VfB Stuttgart.His performances earned him recognition, including being voted Newcomer of the Season by fellow players. Bellingham finished the 2020–21 season with 29 appearances and one goal in the Bundesliga, 46 appearances and four goals in all competitions. He was also a finalist for the 2021 Kopa Trophy, awarded to the world's best under-21 male player, finishing as the runner-up to Pedri of Barcelona.