Jude Bellingham facts for kids

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Jude Bellingham

Bellingham in 2024

Personal information

Date of birth

29 June 2003 (age 21)

Place of birth

Stourbridge, England

Height

6 feet 1 inch (1.86 m)

Playing position

Midfielder

Club information

Current club

Real Madrid

Number

Youth career

2009–2010

Stourbridge Juniors

2010–2019

Birmingham City

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps^†

(Gls)^†

2019–2020

Birmingham City

(4)

2020–2023

Borussia Dortmund

(12)

2023–

Real Madrid

(26)

National team^‡

2016–2018

England U15

(1)

2018–2019

England U16

(4)

2019

England U17

(2)

2020

England U21

(1)

2020–

England

(6)

Honours

Men's football

Representing England
UEFA European Championship
Runner-up	2020 Europe
Runner-up	2024 Germany

Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:18, 19 January 2025 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21:44, 17 November 2024 (UTC)

Jude Victor William Bellingham (born on 29 June 2003) is an English professional footballer. He plays as a midfielder for the Spanish club Real Madrid. He also plays for the England national team. Jude is known for his speed, amazing dribbling, and great passing. Many people think he is one of the best players in the world.

Bellingham started playing for Birmingham City when he was just 8 years old. He became their youngest ever first-team player in August 2019. He was only 16 at the time. He played regularly for them during the 2019–20 season. In July 2020, he moved to Borussia Dortmund in Germany. In his very first game, he became their youngest goal scorer. He played 132 games for Dortmund over three seasons. He helped them win the 2020–21 DFB-Pokal (a German cup). His excellent play in the 2022–23 season earned him the Bundesliga Player of the Season award.

Later in 2023, he won two big awards for young footballers. He won the Golden Boy award and the Kopa Trophy. These awards recognize the best young players in Europe and the world. Bellingham then joined Real Madrid for a very high fee. In his first season, he was the top league scorer for Real Madrid. He helped them win the Spanish league title and the Champions League. In 2024, he was named La Liga Player of the Season. He also finished third for both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA The Best awards.

Jude Bellingham has played for England at different youth levels. He played for the under-15, under-16, under-17, and under-21 teams. He made his first appearance for the senior England team in November 2020. He has represented England in major tournaments like UEFA Euro 2020, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2024.

Early Life and Football Beginnings

Jude Victor William Bellingham was born on 29 June 2003 in Stourbridge, England. He is the older son of Denise and Mark Bellingham. His father, Mark, was a police sergeant and a very good goal scorer in local football leagues. Jude's younger brother, Jobe, is also a professional footballer.

Jude went to Priory School in Edgbaston, Birmingham. He grew up looking up to the famous French footballer Zinedine Zidane. In 2021, Jude finished his studies at Loughborough College. He earned a BTEC certificate in sport.

Club Career Highlights

Starting at Birmingham City

Jude Bellingham joined Birmingham City when he was only 8 years old. Before that, he played for Stourbridge Juniors. He was so good that he played for Birmingham's under-18 team at 14. He made his debut for their under-23 team at just 15 years old. In that game, he scored the winning goal in the 87th minute!

By March 2019, he was already getting attention from big European clubs. He started training more with the senior team. He even traveled with them to matches to learn.

In July 2019, Jude officially joined Birmingham City on a scholarship. He was given the squad number 22 for the 2019–20 season. On 6 August, he made his first-team debut in an EFL Cup match. At 16 years and 38 days old, he became the youngest player ever for Birmingham City. He broke a record that had stood since 1970!

A few weeks later, he made his league debut. On 31 August, he scored his first goal for Birmingham City against Stoke City. This made him the club's youngest ever goal scorer. He continued to play regularly, often on the left wing or in central midfield. He was named EFL Young Player of the Month in November 2019.

Big clubs started to notice Jude. In January 2020, Manchester United reportedly offered £20 million for him, but Birmingham City said no. Jude continued to be a key player for Birmingham. He played 44 games in total that season, scoring four goals. Birmingham City decided to retire his number 22 shirt. This was to honor his achievements and inspire other young players. He also won the Championship Apprentice of the Year award.

Moving to Borussia Dortmund

It was clear that Jude would leave Birmingham City for a bigger club. He visited several top clubs, but he chose Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund. He was impressed by how Dortmund helped young players become stars, like Jadon Sancho.

Jude's transfer to Dortmund was confirmed on 20 July 2020. He joined them after Birmingham's last game of the season. The transfer fee was around £25 million. This made him the most expensive 17-year-old player in football history.

Record-Breaking Start in Germany

Jude made his debut for Borussia Dortmund on 14 September 2020. He started in a German Cup match and scored a goal. He was 17 years and 77 days old. This made him Dortmund's youngest ever goal scorer in any competitive game. Five days later, he made his league debut and provided an assist. He was named Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for September.

On 20 October, Jude played in his first UEFA Champions League match. At 17 years and 113 days, he became the youngest Englishman to start a Champions League game. He played regularly in his first few months at Dortmund.

In 2021, Jude scored his first Champions League goal against Manchester City. He also scored his first Bundesliga goal against VfB Stuttgart. Jude started for Dortmund in their 4–1 win over RB Leipzig in the 2021 DFB-Pokal final. He helped his team win the cup! He finished the season with 46 appearances and four goals. His fellow players voted him Newcomer of the Season. He was also runner-up for the 2021 Kopa Trophy, an award for the world's best under-21 male player.

Becoming Bundesliga Player of the Season

On 4 December 2021, Jude played in Der Klassiker against Bayern Munich. He set up both goals for Dortmund, but Bayern won 3–2.

On 22 October 2022, Jude scored two goals in a 5–0 win against Stuttgart. His first goal started and finished a quick attack. His second was a skillful curved shot. On the final day of the Bundesliga season, Dortmund needed to win to secure the league title. Jude was on the bench due to a knee injury. Dortmund drew the match, and Bayern Munich won the title by a small margin. Jude was very emotional after the game.

His amazing performances that season earned him the Bundesliga Player of the Season award. In 2023, Jude won the Kopa Trophy. This was for his great play during the 2022–23 season for Dortmund and England. He became the first Englishman to win this award. He also won the Golden Boy award for 2023.

Joining Real Madrid

On 14 June 2023, Real Madrid announced that Jude Bellingham was joining their team. He signed a six-year contract. The transfer fee was very high, starting at €103 million. This made him the sixth Englishman to play for Real Madrid.

First Season: Breaking Records and Winning Trophies

On 12 August 2023, Jude scored in his first game for Real Madrid. It was a 2–0 win against Athletic Bilbao in La Liga. He scored two more goals and made an assist in his next game. He also scored the winning goal in another match. This made him the league's top scorer and the first English player to win the La Liga Player of the Month award.

On 2 September, Jude scored a 95th-minute winning goal in his first game at the Santiago Bernabéu. He became only the third player to score in each of his first four games for Real Madrid. He scored 10 goals in his first 10 matches, matching Cristiano Ronaldo's record.

On 28 October, Jude scored two goals against their rivals Barcelona. One of his goals was a fantastic shot from far away. He became the first Real Madrid player to score in his La Liga debut, Champions League debut, and in El Clásico (the big game against Barcelona). His coach, Carlo Ancelotti, said he played "stupendously." Jude won La Liga Player of the Month again for October.

Jude dislocated his left shoulder in November but returned to play quickly. He continued to score goals, breaking the club record for most goals in his first 15 games. On 29 November, he became the first player to score in his first four Champions League appearances for Real Madrid.

On 10 February 2024, Jude scored twice in a big win against Girona. On 21 April, he scored the winning goal in added time against Barcelona. This was his 21st goal of the season. It made him Real Madrid's all-time top English scorer. The next day, he won the Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year.

Jude finished his first season as Real Madrid's top league scorer with 19 goals. He helped them win the La Liga title. He was named La Liga Player of the Season. He also played against his old club, Borussia Dortmund, in the Champions League final. Jude provided an assist to help Real Madrid win 2–0. He was named the UEFA Champions League Young Player of the Season.

Second Season and European Super Cup

Jude started his second season in Spain on 14 August 2024. He assisted Kylian Mbappé's first goal for Real Madrid. Madrid beat Atalanta 2–0 to win a record-breaking sixth European Super Cup. On 9 November, Jude scored his first goal of the season for Real Madrid in a 4–0 win over Osasuna.

International Career

Playing for England's Youth Teams

Jude Bellingham could play for England (his home country) or for the Republic of Ireland (because of a grandparent). He chose to play for England. He made his debut for the England under-15 team in December 2016. He even captained that team!

By the end of 2018, he was playing for the England under-16 team. He played 11 games, scored four goals, and was captain. In September 2019, he joined England's under-17 squad for a friendly tournament. He scored in his first game against Finland. He also captained the team and scored against Austria. England won the final against Poland on penalties, and Jude was named player of the tournament.

In September 2020, Jude was called up to the under-21 squad. He became the youngest player to appear for England U21. He came on as a substitute and scored a goal in a 6–0 win against Kosovo.

Playing for the Senior England Team

In November 2020, Jude was called up to the England senior squad for the first time. He made his debut in a friendly match against the Republic of Ireland. He was 17 years and 136 days old. This made him England's third-youngest full international player ever.

Jude was chosen for the England squad for the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament. When he played in England's first match against Croatia, he became the youngest Englishman to play at any major tournament. He was also the youngest player of any country to play at a UEFA European Championship.

Jude scored his first goal for the senior England team on 21 November 2022. It was a header in England's 6–2 win over Iran at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This made him the second youngest scorer for England at a World Cup. He also helped set up other goals in that game. In the next game against Senegal, he assisted a goal and played a key role in another.

UEFA Euro 2024 Performance

Jude was part of England's squad for UEFA Euro 2024. He scored a powerful header to give England a 1–0 win against Serbia. He was named player of the match.

In the round of 16, he scored a 95th-minute overhead kick against Slovakia. This tied the score at 1–1 and sent the game into extra time. England won 2–1, and Jude was again named player of the match. He played the full 120 minutes in the quarter-final against Switzerland. He scored in the penalty shootout, which England won. England reached the final but lost to Spain. Jude assisted a goal in the final.

Style of Play

Jude Bellingham is known for his amazing ball control, strength, and technical skills. Many people see him as one of the best and most complete midfielders in the world. He is also very versatile and has great vision on the field.

He is praised for being able to play many different roles. He is great at both defending and attacking. Experts describe him as a "do-it-all midfielder." His excellent runs and dribbling skills are also highly praised. He can quickly change from defending to attacking.

An analysis by the Bundesliga described Jude as "the complete package." They said he is a dynamic midfielder who can win the ball, move it forward, keep possession, and find gaps in the other team's defense. He can also assist and score goals.

Famous footballers have praised Jude. Philipp Lahm called him a "complete midfielder" who can "dribble, pass, shoot and has the urge to score." Phil Foden said Jude is "one of the most gifted players I've ever seen." Paul Scholes said Jude is "better than anything we've seen" for his age. He is often compared to his idol, Zinedine Zidane.

When he moved to Real Madrid in 2023, Jude started playing in a more advanced role. He often played as an attacking midfielder or even as a second striker. This change helped him score many goals, including 10 in his first 10 games for Madrid.

Jude's talent as a young player has been recognized with many awards. He won the IFFHS World's Best Youth (U20) Player in 2022 and 2023. He also won the Golden Boy award and Kopa Trophy in 2023.

Outside Football

Bellingham during an EA Sports event in September 2024

In June 2024, Jude Bellingham appeared in a campaign for Kim Kardashian's clothing brand, Skims. He modeled men's underwear. In July 2024, Jude was announced as the cover star for the video game EA Sports FC 25. In the same month, Adidas launched Jude's first special collection of clothes. It included a jersey, tracksuit, and shorts with his "JB" logo. In August 2024, Louis Vuitton named Jude a "Friend of the House," starting a partnership with him. In September 2024, Jude started his own YouTube channel. He released a documentary about his first year in Spain. In December 2024, Jude appeared in Adidas’ documentary film Under the Tongue.

Career Statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Birmingham City	2019–20	Championship	41	4	2	0	1	0	—		—		44	4
Borussia Dortmund	2020–21	Bundesliga	29	1	6	2	—		10	1	1	0	46	4
	2021–22	Bundesliga	32	3	3	0	—		8	3	1	0	44	6
	2022–23	Bundesliga	31	8	4	2	—		7	4	—		42	14
	Total		92	12	13	4	—		25	8	2	0	132	24
Real Madrid	2023–24	La Liga	28	19	1	0	—		11	4	2	0	42	23
	2024–25	La Liga	16	7	1	0	—		7	1	4	1	28	9
	Total		44	26	2	0	—		18	5	6	1	70	32
Career total			177	42	17	4	1	0	43	13	8	1	246	60

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
England	2020	1	0
	2021	9	0
	2022	12	1
	2023	5	1
	2024	13	4
Total		40	6

England score listed first, score column indicates score after each Bellingham goal

List of international goals scored by Jude Bellingham
No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	21 November 2022	Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar	18	Iran	1–0	6–2	2022 FIFA World Cup
2	12 September 2023	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	26	Scotland	2–0	3–1	Friendly
3	26 March 2024	Wembley Stadium, London, England	29	Belgium	2–2	2–2	Friendly
4	16 June 2024	Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany	30	Serbia	1–0	1–0	UEFA Euro 2024
5	30 June 2024	Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany	33	Slovakia	1–1	2–1 (aet)	UEFA Euro 2024
6	10 October 2024	Wembley Stadium, London, England	37	Greece	1–1	1–2	2024–25 UEFA Nations League B