Borussia Dortmund has signed midfielder, Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland for £ 32 million.
Bellingham had attracted interest from Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig, but Dortmund eventually defeated their Bundesliga rivals to sign the 19-year-old, who moves in the footsteps of his older brother-Jude, who scored 24 goals in 132 performances between 2020-23 in the club.
Sunderland had inserted a release clause of £ 33.7 million in Bellingham’s contract, but the club and player had a polite agreement that he could join a large club for a lower fee that Dortmund met an offer of £ 32 million, consisting of a £ 27.8 million fee plus £ 4.2 million in add-ons.
However, Sunderland will sell a clause of 15% that are inserted within the transfer, which means that the black cats will receive 15% of future transfer costs if Bellingham Dortmund will leave for each price in the future.
Sports director, Kristjaan Speakman, explained that Bellingham ‘had a relentless dedication to improvement that only possesses the very best’, so that the club was proud of its progress and attitude during his time.
“Less obvious are the sacrifices and the challenges on the road, and I could not be more proud of how he behaved and embraced the club, the community and our supporters.
“He has lived and brought every step of the road. For our club it is a different representation of the power of our strategy and what is possible.
“Jowe wanted to make his own story, be part of a new Sunderland and have a lasting impact. He has achieved all this, and although we are naturally disappointed to lose a player of Jowe’s quality, everyone at SAFC wishes him well in this next phase of his journey.”
Bellingham added a farewell message to Sunderland fans as he praised them for their support.
“It’s time for me to say goodbye to all the loyal people from Sunderland, who forced me for two incredible years in red and white. Your support, on so many occasions, has completely blown me away, especially in the times of adversity that we have experienced together.
“You welcomed me with open arms as a child who went home for the first time, and I am proud that our relationship has become so strong. I will always represent Dewearside in everything I strive for the rest of my career, wherever that is.
“I hope I made you proud of you along the way, and in exchange you made me the player who has reached the heights that I find myself today. I will love and remember you for the rest of my life. For the staff, players, players and especially the supporters, thank you so much and good luck for the future.”
In the meantime, the young midfielder told the Dortmund website that he is ‘very happy’ to become a member of Dortmund and will be part of the Club World Cup team.
“I am very happy to be a Borussia Dortmund player and to fight for titles together with this great club.
“I want to play my role in celebrating success with these great fans here and will work on myself and with the team every day. And I am very happy that I will wear the black and yellow sweater at the FIFA Club World Cup.”
Bellingham started his career in Birmingham, where he made his debut in a 1-0 first round victory at home at Colchester United in August 2021 in the Carabao Cup of that season, before he made a total of 26 first team performances.
However, the midfielder decided to move to Sunderland in 2023, where he yielded 11 goals in 90 performances in two seasons, in which he helped the Black Cats promote to the Premier League in May 2025 via the Championshipplay-Offs to end an eight-year absence of top flight.
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