Following months of speculation, England national team midfielder Jude Bellingham sealed his move from German Bundesliga 1 club Borussia Dortmund to Spanish La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid. The transfer, which costed Los Blancos €103 million plus up to €30 million in the form of add-ons, made the 19-year-old star midfielder only the seventh British player to sign for the 14-time European champion, with the rest being Laurie Cunningham, Steve McManaman, David Beckham, Michael Owen, Jonathan Woodgate and Gareth Bale.
Important Figure for Both Club and Country
The Stourbridge-born teenage sensation made his senior debut for Birmingham City back in 2019, and his exceptional and all-around abilities in the midfield area quickly caught the attention of Borussia Dortmund from Germany, prompting The Black and Yellows to break the bank and make him the most expensive 17-year-old footballer with a rumoured €25-million transfer.
During his tenure with the eight-time German league winner, Bellingham scored 24 goals in 132 appearances in all competitions, and was given the opportunity to wear the skipper’s armband in many league and cup matches last season. Although Dortmund ultimately fell short to capture its sixth Bundesliga 1 title in the recent season, the England international captured the Player of the Season award and became the youngest ever player to captain a club in the German top flight.
At international level, the 19-year-old became the brightest star for England national team in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. During the quadrennial event in Qatar, the midfielder opened the score line for the Three Lions in their opening group match victory against Iran, making him the second youngest ever English player to grab a goal in a FIFA World Cup match at 19 years and 145 days.
Real Madrid’s Star-Studded Midfield Just Got Stronger
Bellingham’s lucrative arrival to Real Madrid means he will be joining the ranks of Toni Kroos, Luka Modrić, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni in the 35-time Spanish league champion’s midfield options when the football season resumes. This depth will certainly boost Carlo Ancelotti’s team’s chances of winning major accolades namely Spanish La Liga and UEFA Champions League, having finished second-best to its bitter rival Barcelona and Manchester City in the semifinal respectively.
Real Madrid to Present Jude Bellingham Today
In a public statement by the official website, Real Madrid has announced that they will unveil Jude Bellingham before the public and media at the Spanish capital on Thursday (Today). The announcement read “Real Madrid CF and Borussia Dortmund have agreed on the transfer of the player Jude Bellingham, who will remain linked to our club for the next six seasons. Tomorrow, Thursday, June 15, at 12:00 noon at Real Madrid City, the presentation ceremony for Jude Bellingham as a new Real Madrid player will take place. After, Jude Bellingham will appear before the media”.
As for Bellingham himself, the teenage wonder thanked his former club and its fans after completing the move to his dream club. He said: “Thank you to everyone at BVB and to the fans for everything over the past three years. It’s been an honour to wear your jersey so many times, in big and small moments. Even though I look forward to my next destination, I will never forget the journey there. Once a Borusse, always a Borusse. All the best for the future. Hey BVB!”
Jobe Bellingham Agreed Move to Sunderland From Birmingham City
In addition to Jude Bellingham’s recent transfer, his 17-year-old brother Jobe also moved from Birmingham City to Sunderland on an undisclosed fee. When asked about his transfer to The Black Cats, Jobe stated that: “I’m delighted to sign for Sunderland AFC and I can’t wait to get started. The opportunity for young players to move here and progress is clear, so I believe this is the perfect club for me to continue my development. I’m grateful to everyone at Birmingham City for their support over the past 11 years and I wish them the best for the future, as I begin the next chapter of my career at the Stadium of Light.”
