Jobe Bellingham could follow in his brother’s footsteps and head to Germany, with Borussia Dortmund stepping up their pursuit of the Sunderland midfielder.
The 19-year-old has caught the eye in the Championship this season, making 34 appearances, scoring four goals and registering three assists. Now, Dortmund are said to be growing increasingly confident of completing a deal to sign the teenager, despite his long-term contract at the Stadium of Light.
Family Ties Could Prove Key
According to reports in Germany, Bellingham remains firmly on Dortmund’s radar, and interest is gathering pace. Scouts have monitored him for over three years, and the Bundesliga club are believed to have maintained a strong relationship with the Bellingham family since Jude Bellingham’s move to the Westfalenstadion in 2020.
“BILD have reported today that even if Bellingham’s contract at Sunderland runs out in the summer of 2028, the Black Cats are willing to let him depart much earlier.”
Bellingham has visited Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park several times and is known to be impressed by the club’s atmosphere and development structure. That connection, combined with the family’s positive past experience, is understood to be influencing the situation behind the scenes.
Sunderland signed Bellingham from Birmingham City in 2023, and while he is under contract until 2028, their reported £25 million asking price suggests they are open to negotiations. That figure could yet be challenged by Dortmund, who may look to reduce the fee.
The teenager has taken significant steps this season after a gradual integration into senior football. His ability to play multiple midfield roles and his physical development have marked him as one of the Championship’s most promising young players.
Sunderland Record Sales
Where would this sit in Sunderland’s record sales?
The Black Cats’ biggest fees include Jordan Pickford, who moved to Everton in 2017 for around £25 million (rising to £30m), making him the club’s most expensive departure. Darren Bent’s transfer to Aston Villa in 2011 for an initial £18 million was another significant sale. Simon Mignolet’s switch to Liverpool in 2013 brought in £9 million, while Don Hutchison’s £6 million move to West Ham in 2001 was a record at the time.
These sales reflect Sunderland’s occasional success in developing high-value talent.
Writer’s View
Jobe Bellingham has developed impressively at Sunderland, and while fans will hope he remains for at least another season, the pull of Dortmund’s elite development pathway—and the legacy connection—could prove too strong. For Sunderland, a potential windfall might aid their own long-term planning, even if losing such a young talent is a bitter pill to swallow.
