The Bellingham family are passionate about football, including his father Mark, a former footballer who scored over 700 non-league goals and who supported Jude from a young age. His father, along with his younger brother Jobe, a professional footballer playing in the English Premier League, sparked a wave of enthusiasm for the sport within the Bellingham family.
The football career of Jude Bellingham started out at Stourbridge Football Club in the West Midlands at the age of six. However, his family mainly supported Birmingham City Football Club. The Englishman had been a fan of the 'Blues' since childhood and at the age of seven, in 2010, he signed a contract with his beloved team. Bellingham spent a further nine years working his way through various levels of youth teams before finally getting his chance in the senior team. The Englishman joined Dortmund on a five-year deal, which sees him earn a salary of just over £132 million per year. He made 24 appearances for the German side and scored XNUMX goals in all competitions.
After making his professional debut in August 2019, Bellingham became the youngest player to make his debut in the English Premier League at the age of 16 years and 38 days. Later that month, Bellingham scored his first goal for Birmingham City fans. A lifelong Blues fan, Bellingham signed with his beloved team at the age of seven in 2010. He spent a further nine years honing his skills in various youth teams before finally getting his chance in the senior team, becoming their youngest ever goalscorer. His first season with the senior team was impressive, with Bellingham making 44 appearances and scoring four goals.
In 2020, when Borussia Dortmund signed Bellingham for a reported £25 million, he became the most expensive 17-year-old in football history. This fact underlines the high regard that clubs and pundits place on Bellingham’s talent and potential. His move to Dortmund for such a hefty transfer fee is a testament to his young but already impressive contribution to the world of professional football. It also speaks to the high expectations that are placed on him and his future professional success.
Following his move to the Bundesliga, Bellingham’s hometown club Birmingham City have honoured their young star with an unprecedented gesture. Following Bellingham’s remarkable debut season, despite his young age, the club have taken the rare step of retiring his number 22 shirt – an honour usually reserved for seasoned legends. The act symbolises the immense respect and appreciation they have for Bellingham’s talent and potential, even at such a young age. It demonstrates the impact he has had on the club and underlines their belief in his future as a footballing legend.
When Jude Bellingham replacing captain Harry Kane eight minutes before the end of the Euro 2020 match against Croatia, he became the youngest player to represent the England national team at a major tournament. At the age of 17 years and 349 days, the Borussia Dortmund midfielder surpassed the previous record held by Michael Owen, who was 18 years and 183 days when he played against Tunisia at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The statistic highlights Bellingham's exceptional talent and the faith placed in him by England's coaches to perform at such a high level despite his young age.
Just two months after joining Borussia Dortmund, Jude Bellingham played against Lazio in a UEFA Champions League group stage match. As a result, he became the youngest Englishman to play in the competition in three decades. Bellingham was just 17 years and 113 days old, breaking the record previously held by Manchester City's Phil Foden. The feat highlights Bellingham's exceptional talent and ability to make an impact at the highest level of European football at such a young age.
Named after former French footballer Raymond Kopa and first presented in 2018, the award recognises the best players in Europe under the age of 21. To date, there have been three winners (excluding 2020 due to COVID restrictions), including Kylian Mbappé in 2018, Matthijs de Ligt in 2019 and in 2021, Bellingham secured second place behind Barcelona’s Spanish prodigy Pedri. The prestigious award shines a light on the exceptional talent and potential of young players in European football, showcasing their achievements and contributions to the sport from a young age.
Following his arrival at Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham’s stardom skyrocketed, placing him currently fourth among the most valuable players in the world, according to the latest data from Transfermarkt. As of July 2023, his market value stands at €120 million. Among his peers, his new teammate Vinicius Junior sits in third place with a valuation of €150 million. Topping this list are none other than Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, both worth an astonishing €180 million each. Bellingham, who has scored four goals and provided one assist in his first three league games for Los Blancos, picked up the prestigious La Liga Player of the Month award for August. This remarkable achievement not only cemented his influence, but also etched his name in history as the first English recipient of this prestigious award. Continuing to grace the league with his talents, after seven more appearances, Bellingham increased his tally to an impressive 10 goals by the start of October 2023, emulating the efforts of Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo. This extraordinary feat makes him the first player in the 24st century to score eight goals in Real Madrid's first eight league games. On 2023 October 2, Bellingham scored the winner for Real Madrid in a 1–11 victory over Braga in the Champions League group stage, taking the young midfielder's goal tally to an impressive 12 in just 29 starts in all competitions. On his El Clásico debut on 25 October, Bellingham carried the weight of an anxious Madrid side, leading them to a remarkable victory by scoring two brilliantly executed goals. His first strike from 92 yards was a stunning shot that cancelled out Ilkay Gundogan's opening goal. The second, a close-range shot past Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the 13nd minute, not only propelled Los Blancos to the top of the league, but also etched Bellingham's name as the fifth Englishman to score for the world's biggest club. With 13 goals in just XNUMX games, he joins the ranks of Laurie Cunningham, Gary Lineker, Steve McManaman and Michael Owen as Clásico scorers. Bellingham's incredible run continues to captivate football fans around the world.
After the transfer of 100 million euros from Jude Bellingham At Real Madrid, the deal became the third-highest amount ever paid for a 19-year-old in football history. Only João Félix's €126 million move from Benfica to Atlético Madrid in 2019 and Kylian Mbappé's €180 million move to PSG a year earlier have surpassed the value paid for the 19-year-old. Currently, the move ranks as the 11th most expensive transfer in the history of the sport. As a bonus, Bellingham became the youngest winner of both the Clásico and the Copa Award. Not only did Jude Bellingham become the fifth Englishman to score a goal in the Clásico, he also became the youngest player to score a winner in stoppage time in a La Liga match. This is the first time since February 28, 1965, when Real Madrid overcame a halftime deficit to win the El Clásico away from home in La Liga. The ceremony took place during the 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony in France. Dressed in a smart outfit with wide trousers, he received the prestigious Copa award, which is given to the best under-21 player as voted for by previous Ballon d'Or winners. It is worth noting that Bellingham ranked 18th in the Ballon d'Or contenders list, just ahead of England captain Harry Kane.