Borussia Dortmund are poised to offer their unwavering support to midfielder Jobe Bellingham, despite the 20-year-old's challenging beginning to his career in Germany. The club's leadership has decided against recruiting a new central midfielder this month, signalling a major vote of confidence in the young Englishman.
A Difficult Start Following a High-Profile Move
Jobe Bellingham completed a high-profile £32 million summer transfer from Sunderland to Dortmund, following the path blazed by his older brother, Jude. While Jude enjoyed a spectacular three-year spell that yielded 24 goals and 25 assists before joining Real Madrid, Jobe's integration has been slower.
To date, the younger Bellingham has made 27 appearances but scored only once, with just five of those outings being starts in the Bundesliga. His most recent league appearance ended in a red card during Dortmund's 1-1 draw with Freiburg last month, compounding a frustrating period.
Dortmund's Hierarchy Doubles Down on Faith
According to reports from Bild, Dortmund's key decision-makers—chief executive Lars Ricken, sporting director Sebastian Kehl, and head coach Niko Kovac—have collectively chosen to back Bellingham. This decision comes even after the club confirmed the sale of midfielder Pascal Gross back to Brighton.
The trio reportedly view Bellingham as a 'training champion' and believe his impressive work in practice will soon translate to competitive matches as he gains confidence. Their plan is for him to make the central midfield position his own, justifying their choice to not enter the January market for a replacement.
Family Tensions and a Dressing Room Reminder
Bellingham's start to the season was also marked by reported off-pitch tensions. After Jobe was substituted at half-time in a 3-3 draw with St. Pauli, his father and advisor, Mark Bellingham, held an emotional discussion with Sebastian Kehl. Bild further reported that Mark Bellingham sought a direct meeting with coach Kovac, openly voicing his frustration.
The incident led to Kehl issuing a firm reminder that the dressing-room area is strictly for players and staff. 'We have made this clear to all involved,' Kehl stated, emphasising that such an intrusion would not happen again.
Despite the inevitable comparisons, Jobe has insisted he did not move to Germany simply to follow in Jude's footsteps. After helping Sunderland win promotion, he signed a five-year deal with Dortmund in a record sale for the Wearside club. The Bundesliga giants are now betting on his talent and resilience to deliver on their significant investment.
