Dortmund sign teen star Bellingham
BERLIN: English teenager Jude Bellingham has joined Bundesliga runnersup Borussia Dortmund from English Championship side Birmingham City, the German club announced yesterday.
The 17-year-old has signed a “longterm contract” and is to join the first team squad from July 30, Dortmund said in a statement.
Neither club disclosed further details, but the transfer fee is reported to be around €22 million.
“I can’t thank Birmingham City enough for what they have done for me, not just this past year but since the age of seven,” said Bellingham.
“However, I’m incredibly excited to have joined one of Europe’s biggest clubs. The direction they are heading in and how much they help to improve young players made it an easy decision for myself and my family.”
After the success of Jadon Sancho, who broke into the England team in 2018 on the back of his Dortmund performances, Bellingham hopes to be the latest Englishman to follow in his footsteps.
“Jude has enormous potential, and we want to help him develop in the coming years,” said Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc.
The German club also posted a video on social media with first-team players singing the Beatles hit Hey Jude.
Midfielder Bellingham has long been linked with a move to Dortmund, having impressed at Championship side Birmingham over the last 12 months.
He became the club’s youngest ever first-team debutant last August, and has since made three appearances for England U17s.
His displays for Birmingham also attracted the attention of Manchester United, who reportedly tried to sign him in January.