Jude Bellingham

Jude Victor William Bellingham (born 29 June 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and the England national team.

Bellingham joined Birmingham City as an under-8, became the club's youngest ever first-team player when Jude Bellingham made his senior debut in August 2019, at the age of 16 years, 38 days, and played regularly during the 2019–20 season. Jude Bellingham joined Borussia Dortmund in July 2020, and in his first competitive match became their youngest ever goalscorer.

Jude Bellingham represented England at under-15, under-16, under-17 and under-21 levels. Jude Bellingham made his first appearance for the senior team in November 2020, and represented the country at UEFA Euro 2020.

Bellingham joined Birmingham City as an under-8, after playing for Stourbridge. Jude Bellingham played for their under-18 team at 14, and made his debut for their under-23 team at the age of 15, on 15 October 2018 away to Nottingham Forest's U23s. Entering the game after an hour, Jude Bellingham scored the only goal in the 87th minute "sliding in to force the ball over the goal line after pressure by Kyle McFarlane on the keeper diverted the ball into his path." By March 2019, Jude Bellingham had three goals from ten development squad appearances, had featured in FourFourTwo's list of the "50 most exciting teenagers in English football", and was mentioned as of interest to major European clubs. Jude Bellingham was gradually introduced to the first-team environment while still a schoolboy: increasingly training with the seniors, Jude Bellingham accompanied them on matchday to observe, and travelled as the "19th man" for a Championship match in March.

Bellingham took up a two-year scholarship with Birmingham City to begin in July 2019. Jude Bellingham was part of the first-team training camp in Portugal, played and scored in pre-season friendlies, and was given squad number 22 for the 2019–20 season. On 6 August, when Jude Bellingham started the EFL Cup first round visit to Portsmouth, Bellingham became Birmingham City's youngest ever first-team player. At 16 years, 38 days, Jude Bellingham lowered the record set by Trevor Francis in 1970 by 101 days. Jude Bellingham played for 80 minutes in the 3–0 defeat, and was the Birmingham Mail's man of the match. Jude Bellingham made his first Football League appearance 19 days later, as a second-half substitute in a 3–0 defeat away to Swansea City, and his home debut on 31 August against Stoke City. Replacing the injured Jefferson Montero after half an hour, Bellingham scored the winner – albeit via a generous deflection – as Birmingham came back from 1–0 down to beat Stoke 2–1, and thus became their youngest ever goalscorer, aged 16 years and 63 days. Jude Bellingham started the next match, away to Charlton Athletic two weeks later, and scored the only goal from Kerim Mrabti's cutback.

Bellingham with Birmingham City in 2019

Bellingham continued as a permanent fixture in the matchday squad, sometimes as a substitute but mainly in the starting eleven. Jude Bellingham was eased into the team on the left wing, moved into central midfield "where Jude Bellingham could gain more confidence", and then used "in a more advanced role" once the staff were sure Jude Bellingham could cope with the responsibility. Jude Bellingham was EFL Young Player of the Month for November 2019. According to head coach Pep Clotet, Bellingham himself "feels more comfortable in midfield, and more comfortable when Jude Bellingham can get closer to the opposition box."