Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham is beginning to establish himself in the German side after a challenging start, just in time for his highly anticipated return to England to face Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old joined Dortmund from Sunderland in the summer for around €30.5 million ($35 million) one of the club’s most expensive transfers in history. Like his older brother Jude Bellingham, who rose to stardom at Dortmund before joining Real Madrid in 2023, Jobe saw the Bundesliga giants as the ideal environment to grow and refine his talent.
Wednesday’s match will mark Jobe’s first senior appearance on English soil for his new club. Both Dortmund and City sit among the top contenders in their respective leagues, with Dortmund unbeaten in their Champions League campaign so far.
A Gradual Rise Amid High Expectations
Jobe was well aware that comparisons with his brother were inevitable. “It’s something you think about. You have these anxieties, especially being young,” he admitted during pre-season. “I’m not perfect I do think about these things.”
While Jude’s shadow loomed large, Jobe has worked quietly to forge his own identity even opting to wear ‘Jobe’ on his shirt to distinguish himself from his superstar sibling.
After a promising Club World Cup campaign, where he notched a goal and an assist in three matches, the young midfielder faced a rocky start to the Bundesliga season. He was substituted at halftime in Dortmund’s league opener a moment that led to headlines after his father and agent, Mark Bellingham, was reportedly involved in a tense exchange with the club’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl.
Dortmund later emphasized that “the active area is reserved for players, coaches, and management not families and advisors.”
However, Jobe’s form soon turned a corner. Despite a costly defensive lapse against Bayern Munich in October, he bounced back strongly days later in the Champions League, delivering two assists in a 4-2 win over Copenhagen. Since then, he has continued to impress playing a key role in Dortmund’s German Cup victory over Eintracht Frankfurt and showing commitment in a hard-fought 1-0 win at Augsburg.
Growing Confidence from Teammates and Coaches
Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac praised Jobe’s growing maturity and impact. “You could see in our last game against Frankfurt what qualities he has. He’s present, he’s physical. We’re building him up slowly and honestly, he’s progressing even faster than expected because the lad has a lot of quality.”
Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel echoed that sentiment, adding, “Jobe is doing great. He’s been excellent in recent games and is improving week by week outstanding.”
According to sources within the club, Jobe is expected to start against Manchester City, marking a significant milestone in his young career and a symbolic return to the country where his football journey began.
