Jude Bellingham is the teenage midfielder not just making up the numbers but making England tick at his first World Cup.
Bellingham marked his maiden major tournament start by scoring England’s opening goal in Qatar against Iran on Monday, and he set up Jordan Henderson in a 3-0 last-16 win over Senegal during another dominant performance to bely his years.
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He’s the first player to score a goal and provide an assist at a World Cup before turning 20 years old since… Lionel Messi in 2006. He’s the youngest player to provide two assists in one World Cup game since Ronaldo in 1998.
The 19-year-old has been called “one of the greatest talents in European football” and it could take €150million to prise him from his current club, Borussia Dortmund.
Wondering how he burst onto the scene and what the future might hold? The Athletic has you covered…
What’s Bellingham’s background?
Born and raised in Stourbridge, in the west Midlands, Bellingham joined Birmingham City’s academy at the age of eight.
His progress was rapid: he became their youngest senior debutant at the age of just 16 years and 38 days in August 2019.
Bellingham went on to make 44 appearances at a senior level for Birmingham City, before a move to Borussia Dortmund the following summer.
Birmingham City even went on to retire his number 22 shirt.
Why 22? Mike Dodds, Bellingham’s academy coach, told Bellingham he could play as a ‘number 22’, and when faced with a puzzled youngster, replied: ”You can be a No 4, a No 8 and No 10 — someone who can do it all”.
Jude Bellingham factfile
Age: 19
Place of birth: Stourbridge, England
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6ft 1in
Number: 22
Why did Bellingham leave England for Germany?
Bellingham followed in the footsteps of fellow England international Jadon Sancho by making his next destination to Germany at a young age, with Dortmund paying an initial fee of £25million, rising to £30million, in July 2020.
Dortmund were Bellingham’s preferred choice ahead of a number of English clubs, including Manchester United — United even arranged a meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson when Bellingham visited their training ground.
The Bellingham family made a visit to Manchester United in March 2020, with then-boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer putting together a committee in a bid to present a compelling case.
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Technical chief scout Mick Court had an array of Bellingham youth-game footage overlaid on video of United first team in action, detailing how he might function in various formations — for example, at the foot of a midfield diamond or off the right. Then-coach Michael Carrick worked on the psychological factors of moving a family almost 100 miles north to Manchester from the Midlands.
(Photo: Getty Images)
But Bellingham chose Dortmund and in an interview with the Manchester Evening News after his move, said he wanted to seize the “challenge” abroad.
He said: ‘”The chance to play for Dortmund came and I didn’t really hesitate. Not one second have I ever regretted it or thought ‘this is too hard for me’. I want to rise to the challenge every single day I am there.”
Why all the fuss about him?
Because of the impact he’s made already — and the fact he looks like a complete midfielder.
This season, Bellingham has netted nine goals and recorded three assists in 22 domestic performances, scoring four consecutive Champions League goals.
Across the Dortmund line, Bellingham operates in a central role, afforded the freedom to work through the opposition lines.
With his quick feet, strength and balance, Bellingham is able to shift the ball across the pitch, allowing his teammates to breakdown the opponent.
𝑵𝒂 𝑵𝒂 𝑵𝒂 𝑵𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂 🎶
…You know the rest 😉 pic.twitter.com/rBOcoHRsUr
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 4, 2022
Bellingham’s versatility allows him to play across different systems; as a No. 6 or a No. 8 and recently even as a 10.
He can pass, create chances, operate in tight spaces and is quick with his feet.
Against Iran, Bellingham’s 113 touches were more than any other midfielder on the pitch, as he dominated possession and found particular joy in the left and right half-spaces.
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Then, in the knockout game against Senegal, he assisted Henderson for the first goal, before his midfield burst set up Kane for England’s second.
What do people say about him?
Credited for his intelligent thinking in possession, Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic referred to him as “the oldest 19-year-old I have ever seen’, recognising his maturity levels as far beyond that of his age group.
Ex-Dortmund assistant manager Otto Addo said: “Mentally, he’s very strong. He’s prepared for the negative spells. There’s a real maturity to the way he deals with situations. He’s incredibly confident, which helps him perform at the highest level and shrug off mistakes.
“It’s obvious that he’s been brought up really well,” Addo continued. “He’s incredibly polite, humble, down to earth — the first guy to tidy up and carry off things from the training ground after a session.”
🧙♂️ 𝗪izard @BellinghamJude. pic.twitter.com/wrCY2Hngsr
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) October 26, 2021
Speaking last month, Southgate said: “When Jude went to the Euros (in 2021) we thought it was a good experience — but he wanted to play more.
“His mentality was ‘no, I want to start, take corners, captain the team.’ Jude has got tremendous maturity for his age in how he works, trains and how he speaks. He really competes – and that’s the thing we love about him more than anything else.”
After England swept aside Senegal, Phil Foden said simply: “I don’t want to big him up too much as he’s still young but he’s one of the most gifted players I’ve ever seen.”
What’s his contract situation?
Bellingham’s current contract runs until 2025.
Dortmund want to tie him to an extended deal and talks are planned after the World Cup.
CEOHans-Joachim Watzke is desperate to keep him — but has admitted that the Bundesligaside would struggle to fight the financial might of the continent’s elite.
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“I think as soon as the World Cup is over, we’ll have a basic conversation about what he would actually like to do,” Watzke told Bild recently.
“(We’ll talk) with him, with his parents, with whom we have a very close relationship and of course with his advisor. And then he should simply say whether he wants to stay or whether he wants to go. Either way, we’ll discuss it pleasantly and reasonably.
‘But when the big ones in Europe are there, we can’t afford to fight financially. If Jude and his family say they want to stay at Dortmund, we’ll find a solution, and if not, we’ll also find a solution.
“Jude is a wonderful boy. He is certainly one of the greatest talents in European football.”
Is he in demand?
Absolutely.
Jurgen Klopp is a huge admirer of the Borussia Dortmundmidfielder but signing Bellingham this summer was never a realistic proposition for Liverpool.
Having already lost prolific strikerErling Haaland to Manchester City, the GermanBundesligaclub had no intention of selling another one of their prized assets.
The landscape will be different next summer, however.
Bellingham will have two years remaining on his contract, as things stand, and if that is the case, Dortmund’s resolve to keep him is set to be severely tested.
Liverpool will certainly be in the mix but competition for English football’s most exciting young talent is set to be fierce.
Real Madrid,Manchester City,Manchester UnitedandChelsea all retain a strong interest.
How much is he worth?
Despite Watze’s admission, Dortmund are not resigned to losing Bellingham and intend to offer him improved terms in the hope he will sign a contract extension and continue his eye-catching development in Germany.
But if Bellingham does push for a move, Dortmund are adamant he is valued at around €150million (£131.6m, $149.4m).
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That would make him the most expensive British footballer in history.
Unlike Erling Haaland’s transfer to Manchester City this summer, there is no release clause involved.
His family never gave an indication that they wanted one; confident in Bellingham’s ability to the point that interested teams would pay what was required when the time came for him to take the next step.
Birmingham have always refused to go into the specifics of the deal they struck with Dortmund. However, they do have a sell-on clause guaranteeing them a share of any future transfer fee which club sources, speaking anonymously due to the confidential nature of the matter, have said remains higher than five per cent.
What’s next for him?
For now, a quarter-final for England against France.
But whatever the tournament holds for Southgate’s side, back Bellingham’s star to continue to rise.
(Photo: Getty Images)
