Jobe Bellingham on the way to following in Jude Bellingham’s footsteps

Jobe Bellingham has been linked with a big European club, with Dortmund among those monitoring his progress.

After coming through the academy at Birmingham City, Jobe Bellingham moved to Championship side Sunderland for a fee of around £3m in 2023. The 19-year-old scored seven goals in his first season at the club and has continued his fine form this term, with two goals in his first 13 games as the Black Cats top the table.

His fine performances have earned him his first call-up to the England Under-21 squad this week. Meanwhile, Jobe’s brother Jude Bellingham has joined England for their final two Nations League group games, under caretaker manager Lee Carsley.

Jobe Bellingham’s form appears to have caught the eye of a number of big clubs, with The Sun reporting that Dortmund are now weighing up a bid for the midfielder. The Bundesliga club signed Jude Bellingham for £30m in 2020 after just one season at Birmingham, but he has been rewarded handsomely as he has become a key player in three seasons at the club.

After allowing Jude to move to Real Madrid in 2023 for a whopping £115m, Dortmund are now keen on signing the versatile attacker’s younger brother. Scouts from Dortmund are expected to fly to England to keep a close eye on Jobe.

While a move to a Champions League club could be appealing, Jobe may still be wary of following in the same footsteps as his brother. Since joining Sunderland last season, Jobe has decided to have his first name printed on the back of his shirt rather than his surname, a move aimed at avoiding comparisons with his brother.