Borussia Dortmund are poised to place their full faith in young midfielder Jobe Bellingham, despite his challenging opening months in Germany, and will not seek a replacement in the January transfer window.
A Difficult Start in the Bundesliga
The 20-year-old completed a high-profile move from Sunderland last summer for a fee that could rise to £32 million, following the path of his superstar brother, Jude. However, his early impact has been limited. In 27 appearances across all competitions, Bellingham has scored just once and has been restricted to only five Bundesliga starts.
His most recent outing ended in frustration when he was sent off during Dortmund's 1-1 draw with Freiburg in December. This subdued beginning stands in stark contrast to Jude's prolific three-season spell at the club, where he registered 24 goals and 25 assists before his move to Real Madrid.
Club Hierarchy Doubles Down on Support
According to reports from BILD, Dortmund's leadership, including chief executive Lars Ricken, sporting director Sebastian Kehl, and head coach Niko Kovac, have collectively decided against recruiting a new central midfielder this month. This decision comes despite the confirmed sale of Pascal Gross back to Brighton.
The club's brass reportedly view Bellingham as a 'training champion' and are convinced his impressive work in practice will soon translate to matchday performances as he gains confidence. They are backing him to make the midfield position his own.
Family Tensions and a Firm Reminder
Bellingham's integration has not been without off-pitch drama. Earlier this season, his father and advisor, Mark Bellingham, reportedly held an emotional discussion with Sebastian Kehl after Jobe was substituted at half-time during a 3-3 draw with St. Pauli. BILD further reported that Mark sought a direct meeting with coach Kovac to voice his frustration.
The incident prompted a firm reminder from the club regarding access. Kehl stated that the dressing-room area is strictly reserved for players and staff, not families and advisors, adding, "This will not happen again."
Despite the familial parallels, Jobe has previously insisted he did not join Dortmund simply to follow in his brother's footsteps. After helping Sunderland win promotion, he signed a five-year deal in June, with the transfer setting a new record sale for the Wearside club.
