Borussia Dortmund has successfully agreed a transfer deal with Sunderland for midfielder Jobe Bellingham. The fee, a club record for Sunderland, is reported to be £26.9 million.
The agreement for the transfer also includes a 15 percent sell-on clause. This move makes Jobe the second-most expensive acquisition in Borussia Dortmund`s history.
Jobe, the younger sibling of former Dortmund standout Jude Bellingham (who spent three seasons at the Bundesliga club), was a notable presence for Sunderland.
The transfer sum for the versatile midfielder could potentially increase by another £4.2 million based on performance-related add-ons. The base fee is only £1 million less than the amount paid for Ousmane Dembele, Dortmund`s most expensive signing ever.
Much like his brother Jude, Jobe developed through the Birmingham City academy. He spent two years with the first team after debuting in 2021 at just 16 years old.
Sunderland acquired him from Birmingham in the summer of 2023, and he rapidly became a regular starter for the team.
This past season, Jobe featured prominently in the Championship, starting 39 of his 40 matches. He missed only one game due to injury and two due to suspension.
Remarkably for a 19-year-old, he was substituted off only *once* throughout the entire campaign, playing the full 90 minutes in all other appearances.
The adaptable teenager, capable of playing across the midfield line, contributed four goals and three assists for the Black Cats over the season.
He leaves Sunderland after a season where he established himself as a key player and talent.
His performance this term earned him the Young Championship Player of the Season award, and he recently received another call-up to the England U21 squad.
Across his time at Sunderland, he accumulated 11 goals and four assists in 90 appearances.
Interestingly, the fee paid by Dortmund for Jobe surpasses the £25 million they invested in his older brother Jude when he joined in 2020.
Jude departed Dortmund in the summer of 2023, moving to Real Madrid where he became their second-highest transfer fee paid, behind only Eden Hazard.
A fascinating possibility exists for the brothers to face each other in the upcoming Club World Cup. This would happen if the deal is finalized before June 10 and both Dortmund and Real Madrid advance to the final match in the US.
Should they ever compete against each other in the Champions League, they would join a select group of brothers to have done so, including pairs like Lucas and Theo Hernandez.
Meanwhile, Sunderland is reportedly looking at Manchester City prospect Charlie Gray as a potential successor.
