10 fun facts about Jude Bellingham
Jude Victor William Bellingham is a professional footballer from England. He currently plays as a midfielder for Real Madrid in La Liga and the England national team. Bellingham started his career at Birmingham City as an under-8 player and became the youngest first-team player in the club’s history when he made his senior debut in…
Jude Victor William Bellingham is a professional footballer from England. He currently plays as a midfielder for Real Madrid in La Liga and the England national team.
Bellingham started his career at Birmingham City as an under-8 player and became the youngest first-team player in the club’s history when he made his senior debut in August 2019 at just 16 years and 38 days old.
After a successful season with Birmingham City, he transferred to Borussia Dortmund in July 2020. During his time with the club, he made 132 appearances and won the 2020–21 DFB-Pokal. Bellingham’s outstanding performances in the 2022–23 season helped Dortmund secure a runner-up position and earned him the prestigious Bundesliga Player of the Season award.
In 2023, Bellingham made a move to Real Madrid for a transfer fee of €103 million. He has represented England at various youth levels and made his senior team debut in November 2020. Bellingham has also played for England in major tournaments such as UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Check out some fun facts about him.
1. Comes from a family of football enthusiasts
Bellingham’s passion for football stems from his father Mark, a renowned figure in non-league football in England. Mark had an impressive record as a prolific goalscorer, netting over 700 career goals in non-professional football.
Additionally, Bellingham’s younger brother Jobe is currently making waves as a professional footballer, representing Birmingham City.
2. Youngest player to debut for Birmingham City
Bellingham holds the record for being the youngest player to debut for Birmingham City’s first team. He made his debut at just 16 years and 38 days old, becoming the second-youngest player in the club’s history to do so.
He is the youngest player to start a league match, achieving this milestone at the age of 16 years and 63 days. Bellingham also scored his first goal for Birmingham City at the age of 16 years and 63 days, solidifying his position as the youngest goalscorer in the club’s history.
3. Idolised Rooney and Gerrard
Bellingham expressed his admiration for England legends Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard during an interview with Bundesliga.com. He said, “For me, it was always Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard. When I was younger, all I ever wanted was a Birmingham shirt.”
“And then the more and more I watched Wayne Rooney, it was like all I wanted was a Wayne Rooney shirt and all I wanted was a Steven Gerrard shirt. These kinds of people, they kind of mould the way that you play because you admire them so much. So, yeah, those two are probably my two biggest heroes in football.”
4. Played U23 football as a 15-year-old
Bellingham burst onto the scene for Birmingham City’s Under-23 squad at the tender age of 15, back in August 2019. He stood out as one of the most youthful talents to grace the U23 team, showcasing his skills with remarkable displays.
Bellingham’s progression within Birmingham City’s ranks was swift, earning him a call-up to the senior team in no time. His debut for the first team came in August 2019, a mere few months following his U23 debut.
5. Chose Dortmund over Man U
In the summer of 2020, Bellingham caught the attention of Manchester United, who expressed their interest in signing him. Being a highly sought-after player, numerous top clubs across Europe were also reportedly keen on acquiring his services, with Manchester United being one of them.
However, Bellingham ultimately made the decision to join Borussia Dortmund, where he swiftly made his mark as a pivotal player and emerged as one of the most promising young talents in European football.
6. Youngest goalscorer for Dortmund
At just 17 years and 82 days old, Jude Bellingham made history as Borussia Dortmund’s youngest-ever goalscorer in the Bundesliga. On November 21, 2020, he found the back of the net, surpassing the previous record set by Nuri Sahin.
7. Making history
Bellingham made history on November 24, 2020, by becoming the youngest English player to score in the prestigious Uefa Champions League. At just 17 years and 85 days old, he achieved this remarkable feat while playing for Borussia Dortmund against Club Brugge in a group-stage match.
8. Making another history
Bellingham made history as the third youngest player to debut for England at the age of 17 years and 136 days, during an international friendly match against the Republic of Ireland on November 12, 2020.
9. England’s second-youngest scorer in World Cup
In England’s 2022 World Cup opener, he became the second youngest English goalscorer in the history of the World Cup, following Michael Owen. At the time, he was just 19 years and 145 days old.
10. Most expensive player at some point
Borussia Dortmund secured Bellingham’s services in 2020 for an initial £25 million ($33m) transfer fee, making him the most expensive 17-year-old in the history of the game. He signed a five-year deal with the club and is currently earning €1.3 million per year in wages as reported by Marca.
