Jobe Bellingham has admitted he feels nervous about joining Borussia Dortmund, the same club where his older brother Jude made a name for himself.
Jobe, 19, signed with the German side in June after helping Sunderland gain promotion to the Premier League. His older brother Jude, 21, spent three years at Dortmund before joining Real Madrid in 2023 and becoming one of the world’s top players.
Speaking at Dortmund’s pre-season training camp in Austria, Jobe said the move came with some pressure.
“You have these anxieties, especially me as I’m only young,” he told reporters. “I do think about these things, but the club convinced me that it wouldn’t be a problem. This was my decision. My journey is not anyone else’s to understand.”
Jobe, who made his debut for Dortmund at the Club World Cup in the U.S., scored one goal and made an assist in four games. To avoid constant comparisons, he wears “Jobe” on the back of his jersey instead of “Bellingham” — just like he did at Sunderland.
He said his brother Jude is proud of him, though their conversations are usually light-hearted.
“He didn’t say much, just ‘embrace it,’” Jobe said. “Our chats aren’t really that serious.”
Jobe also made it clear he’s focused on doing well on the pitch, not becoming a celebrity.
“I don’t want to be a superstar or a big character off the pitch,” he said. “I just want to work hard and be one of the top performers when I play.”
Borussia Dortmund will kick off their new season in the German Cup against Essen on August 18.
