Borussia Dortmund have announced the arrival of Jobe Bellingham, brother of former star Jude, on a potential £32million deal.
Bellingham earned promotion from the Championship with Sunderland via the play-offs before signing terms with his brother’s former side, with the Black Cats earning an initial £27.8m.
Jobe could face his brother Jude in the Club World Cup after completing his move to Borussia Dortmund.
The 19-year-old signed a five year contract and declared: ‘I’m very happy that I’ll be wearing the black and yellow jersey at the Fifa Club World Cup’, meaning he will pull out of England’s European U21 Championship squad.
Dortmund and Jude’s Real Madrid are in different groups for the first stage of the Club World Cup but could face each other in the quarter finals.
The record sale for Sunderland includes a further £4.2m in add-ons and a 15percent sell-on fee.
Jobe Bellingham has signed for Borussia Dortmund after impressing for Sunderland
Bellingham (far right pictured in 2020) knows the club well after repeatedly supporting his brother, Jude
Jude Bellingham was quick to congratulate his brother and shared the news on his Instagram
Jobe, who will wear number 77 for Dortmund, added: ‘I want to play my part in celebrating success with these great fans here and will work on myself and with the team every day.’
Dortmund convinced Bellingham to follow the footsteps of his older brother, Jude, despite interest from Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig.
Bellingham knows the club well, something he mentions in the club’s announcement video, having watched his brother play there on a number of occasions during Jude’s three-year stay.
However he was insistent that he has not joined in order to follow in the now Real Madrid star’s footsteps, but to carve his own path.
Bellingham was one of the stars of the Black Cats promotion campaign, playing 43 times across the Championship season and post-season.
He joined from boyhood club Birmingham City for around £1m, representing a huge return on their investment.
His brother Jude was quick to congratulate him on the move, taking to social media to write: ‘Your time, enjoy every second!’
Bellingham has become Sunderland’s record sale, overtaking the £25m transfer of Jordan Pickford to Everton in 2017.
And he will cost Dortmund more than his superstar brother did five years ago.
Jude, now a key player for Real Madrid, joined the Bundesliga outfit from Birmingham City as a 17-year-old in 2020 for £25m.
The teenager help Sunderland earn promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs
The teenager will join up with his team-mates at the newly-expanded Club World Cup in the US
He could face older brother Jude (left) at the competition should Dortmund meet Real Madrid
But he insisted he is not looking to follow in his brother’s footsteps (pictured here in 2020)
‘We’ve known Jobe for many years and have, of course, followed his development very closely,’ said Dortmund chief Sebastian Kehl.
‘He’s taken another huge step forward in the past year and, at 19, has matured into an absolute leader. His presence and charisma in central midfield are remarkable and will make us better in a variety of systems.
‘We’re pleased that we were able to complete the transfer before the FIFA Club World Cup and that we’ll see Jobe in our colors for the first time in the USA.
‘He’s at his best and is passionate about the task. Jobe wants to and will forge his own path at BVB and put his own stamp on our game.’
As Kehl mentions, he will now join up with the rest of the side as they prepare for their Club World Cup campaign in the newly-expanded 32-team tournament in the US.