Will Jobe Bellingham Be as Good as Jude For BVB?
The name ‘Bellingham’ is one that is not only well-known to Borussia Dortmund fans, but is also one that many have a fondness for thanks to Jude Bellingham’s time at the club. Now there is another Bellingham in the house, after Der BVB confirmed the signing of Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland in a deal worth an initial £27 million.
He is contracted to the club until 2030, so has plenty of time to prove himself, but Dortmund fans will no doubt be wondering what they should expect from him and whether or not he’ll be able to live up to his family name during his time at the Westfalenstadion.
His Shirt Will Say ‘Jobe’ on the Back
When Jobe Bellingham ran onto the pitch in a Borussia Dortmund shirt in the Club World Cup, supporters will have noticed something odd about his appearance. Rather than saying ‘Bellingham’, as the back of his brother’s shirt once had, his BVB jersey was instead emblazoned with his first name of ‘Jobe’. In the wake of Jude Bellingham’s £113 million departure to Real Madrid, there can be little doubt that Jobe will have been feeling some pressure to live up to the family name. By opting not to have it on his shirt, that at least relieves some of the expectation.
The reason why Jobe Bellingham is refusing to wear his family name on his shirt 😳❌ pic.twitter.com/KhZTaYDAS5
— Mail Sport (@MailSport) June 18, 2025
Like his older brother, Jobe Bellingham emerged from the Birmingham City Academy and he did wear his family name on his shirt during his time with the Blues. It was when he sealed a move to Sunderland that he decided to drop that in favour of his given name. The reasoning behind that choice is easy enough to understand, with the youngster feeling as though he wants to forge his own path and not be seen as trying to live of the achievements of his brother. When Dortmund released their video confirming his signing, it featured the words ‘The name is Jobe’.
He’s a Talented Player
If Borussia Dortmund fans are wondering what it is that the club have got themselves into by signing Jobe Bellingham, the good news is that he is a talented player. Although he may not reach quite the heights that his brother has managed, it isn’t all that fair to compare him to a generational talent. It is also worth bearing in mind that he was named the Championship Young Player of the Season in his final campaign with Sunderland, so it isn’t as though he’s a terrible footballer who is only at Signal Iduna Park because of Jude Bellingham’s time at the club and his success there.
JOBE BELLINGHAM MAKES DEBUT FOR DORTMUND 🟡⚫️
Latest Bellingham to grace the pitch in the yellow and black. Like 2020 all over again 😉
— Men in Blazers Media Network (@meninblazers.bsky.social) 17 June 2025 at 18:30
Instead, there are many who feel as though he will be able to go on and prove himself as perfectly capable of living up to the expectations that come with being a ‘Bellingham’, demanding the ball and showing that he’s capable of offering decent distribution. His debut in the 589th minute of Der BVB’s game against Fluminese in the Club World Cup group stage match was enough to impress the German media, who cited the fact that he had been able to ‘hold his own’ in the middle of the park. He isn’t his brother, but then it’s important to note that he really isn’t trying to be either.
He is Still Young
Dortmund supporters concerned about whether or not Jobe Bellingham will be able to make the same sort of impact that his brother made at the Westfalenstadion would do well to bear in mind that he is still relatively young. Jude Bellingham was even younger when he arrived, of course, but, again, is a world-class talent that might be considered to be the best in his position. Jobe is nearly three years older than Jude was when he signed for Der BVB, but all players develop at different rates to one another. Anyone hoping that he will match or eclipse his brother is likely to be disappointed, but they aren’t the only options.
There is also the chance that he will have a perfectly serviceable career at Signal Iduna Park and may even go on to do better than his brother when it comes to silverware. Although Dortmund came close to winning the Bundesliga with Jude Bellingham at the heart of the midfield, the only trophy that he won during his time at the club was the DFB-Pokal. If June Bellingham can leave with a few additional trophies in his cabinet then it is likely that most fans of Die Schwarzgelben will be more than happy with the contribution that he has made whilst lining up in the yellow and black.
