Jobe Bellingham has completed a high-profile move to Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth up to £31m, marking the next step in a career path that mirrors that of his older brother, Jude. But the 19-year-old insists he is determined to carve out his own identity.
Jobe joins Dortmund from Sunderland after a standout season in the Championship, where he helped the Black Cats secure promotion to the Premier League. Despite that success, he opted for a move abroad, penning a five-year deal with the German club that previously helped launch Jude Bellingham into global stardom.
The similarities are striking. Like Jude, Jobe came through Birmingham City’s academy, impressed in England’s second tier, and is now making the leap to Dortmund. But Jobe wants to be known on his own terms.
“He doesn’t want to live off the back of his brother’s name,” said former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray. “He wants to be the footballer he is and show people what he can do. He’s trying to create his own identity.”
That message was made clear during Jobe’s unveiling in Dortmund, where he stated firmly, “I’m not following in anyone’s footsteps.” The choice to have “Jobe” on the back of his shirt instead of his surname speaks volumes about his desire to step out of Jude’s shadow.
While Jude flourished as a creative No. 10 and now stars for Real Madrid, Jobe offers a different skillset. A versatile midfielder, he has been deployed in several positions — even briefly as a striker — but prefers a box-to-box role.
“I know playing box-to-box is what I enjoy the most,” Jobe said in an interview. “You can get stuck in and drive forward. I can show more of what I’m capable of in that position.”
In the 2024-25 season, Jobe made 43 appearances for Sunderland, scoring four goals and providing three assists. Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris praised his versatility and drive: “He can express his power, his ability to press and link defence with attack. I like him as a number eight.”
The move makes Jobe Dortmund’s second-most expensive signing ever, behind only Ousmane Dembélé, and sets a new transfer record for Sunderland. It also raises the prospect of a Bellingham brothers showdown at the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States.
Dortmund and Real Madrid are in separate groups, but if both win their respective groups and last-16 matches, they could meet in the quarter-finals on 5 July — potentially the first time the brothers face off in a competitive match.
Despite the comparisons and media attention, Jude has been nothing but supportive. Speaking on his YouTube channel last year, the Real Madrid midfielder said, “To play with my brother for England… that would be the biggest dream of my life.”
Jobe, who has four England U21 caps and is part of the squad for this summer’s European Under-21 Championship, could one day fulfil that dream. For now, though, the focus is on settling into life in Germany.
“It was a bit of a surprise when he came to Sunderland,” said former Black Cats striker Marco Gabbiadini. “He’s been very good for us. Is he as good as his brother? Not from what I’ve seen so far — but even if he’s 80%, he’ll be a top player.”
With a major tournament on the horizon and a new challenge at one of Europe’s elite clubs, Jobe Bellingham stands at a crossroads — one already taken by his brother, but with every intention of turning it into his own journey.
