Jobe Bellingham has completed the path from Birmingham City to Borussia Dortmund after completing his €33millon move to the club where his brother’s career went stratospheric.
The midfielder has signed a five-year deal with BVB and will go straight into their Club World Cup campaign when he flies out to the United States on Friday.
The 19-year-old will do so with comparisons with his older sibling Jude ringing in his ears but – just as he has always been – adamant that they are different people and players.
Indeed in the introductory video Dortmund posted on social media, Jobe made reference to watching his brother during his three seasons at the club – without actually mentioning him by name.
He said: “I’ve been here before, watching games, hearing the fans chant, feeling the power of these colours. This place stuck with me.
“Now I am here again, not to watch and not to follow in anyone’s footsteps, the same stadium, the same city but the story that’s ours to write now.”
Jobe, who also came through the youth set-up at Birmingham City, will wear the No. 77 shirt and joins having spent two years at Sunderland, with whom he won promotion to the Premier League.
He made 26 appearances for Blues, after becoming the club’s second youngest first team player, and 90 for the Black Cats. He has also played for the England Under-21s.
Jobe told the BVB website: “I’m very happy to be a Borussia Dortmund player now and to fight for titles together with this great club. I want to play my part in celebrating success with these great fans here and will work on myself and with the team every day. And I’m very happy that I’ll be wearing the black and yellow jersey at the FIFA Club World Cup.”
Blues are expected to receive some form of sell-on fee, while Sunderland are said to have negotiated a 15 per cent clause if and when he does move.
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