On June 29, 2003, Jude Bellingham was born in Stourbridge, England. His family loved football, so he began playing at a young age. Before joining Birmingham City’s youth teams at age 8, he played for Stourbridge.
At the age of 14, he played for the under-18 team. At the age of 15, he played for the under-23 team. He played his first game on October 15, 2018, against Nottingham Forest’s U23S. Bellingham scored the only goal in the 87th minute, after coming on after an hour.
Birmingham City Rise
In July 2019, Bellingham signed a two-year scholarship with Birmingham City. He had a great pre-season in Portugal and made his first-team debut in August.
At 16 years and 38 days old, he became the club’s youngest first-team player. He played 44 times for the club during the 2019/20 season and scored four goals.
Bellingham stood out even though the relegation battle was brutal. The club later announced that they would retire his number 22 jersey to honour his achievements and inspire future generations.
Move to Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund beat out other big European teams to sign Bellingham for a record £25 million. Dortmund was the perfect place for him because they are known for developing young players.
He made his first appearance in September 2020 and quickly became known. That season, he played 46 times, scored four goals, and became the youngest Englishman to start a Champions League game.
Bellingham’s teammates voted him Newcomer of the Season after he helped Dortmund reach the quarterfinals. He also came in second to Pedri in the Kopa Trophy in 2021.
He scored eight goals in 87 games while he was with Dortmund, and he was the captain when Reus was out. He also demonstrated a great deal of maturity for his age.
Career with the England National Team
Bellingham has played for England at all levels. He played for the U15S for the first time in 2016 and led them to victory in 2017, earning him a Special Achievement Award. He went on to lead the U16 and U17 teams, winning the Syrenka Cup and being named player of the tournament.
He was the youngest player on the England U21 team and scored in his first game. He made his senior debut in November 2020, at the age of 17 years and 136 days. He was the third-youngest player to do so after Theo Walcott and Wayne Rooney.
He played in UEFA Euro 2020, making him the youngest English player to participate in a major tournament. He scored his first senior international goal against Senegal at the 2022 World Cup. He is now an important player in England’s midfield.
Real Madrid’s Record Transfer
Real Madrid signed Bellingham in June 2023 for €103 million over six years, with the possibility of the deal rising to €133.9 million with add-ons. The deal also gave Birmingham City £6 million. Bellingham picked the number 5 shirt to honour Zinedine Zidane.
At only 20, he impressed the press and fans with his maturity in press conferences.
A Dream Start at Real Madrid
Bellingham scored in his first game for Athletic Bilbao in August 2023, then scored two goals against Almería and a dramatic winner against Celta Vigo. In August, he became the first Englishman to win Player of the Month in La Liga.
He scored the game-winning goal in extra time against Getafe in his first game at the Santiago Bernabéu, making fans sing “Hey Jude.” He was the third Madrid player to score in his first four games, tying the club’s record for most goals in the first four games.
A Bright Future Ahead
Jude Bellingham has done what most players can only dream of doing in their careers at the age of 20. He is widely regarded as one of the best young midfielders in the world and a future legend for both Real Madrid and England, due to his exceptional talent, strong work ethic, and exceptional maturity.
