Borussia Dortmund have finalized a transfer arrangement with Sunderland for the signing of midfielder Jobe Bellingham. The deal includes an initial fee of €32 million (£26.96 million), with the potential for an additional €5 million (£4.2 million) in performance-based bonuses. The 19-year-old attracted attention from multiple clubs across Europe, but it is Dortmund—where his older brother Jude previously played—who are set to land his signature.
Bellingham joined Sunderland in 2023 and played a key role in their promotion to the Premier League during the recent season. Over the campaign, he featured in 43 matches and scored four goals in all competitions. His move to Dortmund echoes the path taken by Jude, who also left Birmingham City for the German side before joining Real Madrid in 2023.
Career beginnings and rising profile
Jobe began his football journey at Birmingham City, rising through their youth ranks and spending two years with their senior squad. After switching to Sunderland, he quickly became a first-team regular and earned recognition as the Championship’s Young Player of the Year in May—an award his brother Jude also received five years earlier.
The midfielder is also a part of England’s youth setup and is currently listed in the squad for the upcoming European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia, which runs from 11 to 28 June. However, national team coach Lee Carsley has stated he is willing to release players if they are selected for the FIFA Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States from 14 June to 13 July. Should the transfer be finalized by 10 June, Bellingham would be eligible to participate in the global tournament.
Family ties and familiar faces
Jobe’s prospective transfer to Dortmund appears to have been influenced not just by his brother’s legacy but also by relationships within the football world. Dortmund’s UK scout, Daniel Dodds, is the brother of Mike Dodds, the current manager of Wycombe Wanderers and a former coach at both Birmingham City and Sunderland. Mike worked closely with the Bellingham brothers during their formative years at Birmingham and later supported Jobe’s move to Sunderland.
Reflecting on Jobe’s potential, Mike Dodds remarked in 2023 that both siblings share a focused and driven mentality in pursuit of success. That mindset, combined with his recent performances, suggests Jobe could be on a trajectory similar to Jude’s in European football.
