Jude Bellingham

Jude Victor William Bellingham was born in Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, and began playing for Stourbridge Juniors before joining Birmingham City's academy as an under-8. He progressed rapidly through the club's age groups, playing for the under-18 team at 14 and making his under-23 debut at 15. In his first under-23 appearance against Nottingham Forest in October 2018, he scored the only goal of the match.

Bellingham was privately educated at Priory School in Edgbaston and graduated from Loughborough College with a BTEC Level 3 certificate in sport in 2021. His mother, Denise, is of Afro-Jamaican descent, while his father, Mark, is of Irish descent and played non-League football. His younger brother, Jobe Bellingham, also became a professional footballer.

Bellingham signed a two-year scholarship with Birmingham City in 2019 and was given the number 22 shirt for the 2019-20 season. On 6 August 2019, he became the youngest first-team player in the club's history when he started against Portsmouth in the EFL Cup at 16 years and 38 days. He became Birmingham's youngest goalscorer later that month by scoring the winning goal against Stoke City.

Initially used on the left wing, Bellingham moved into central midfield before taking on a more advanced role. He finished his first senior season with four goals in 44 appearances in all competitions and won both the EFL Young Player of the Season and Championship Apprentice of the Year awards. Birmingham City retired his number 22 shirt after his departure, recognising his impact during a single season with the first team.

Borussia Dortmund signed Bellingham in July 2020 after his breakthrough campaign in England. He scored on his debut against MSV Duisburg in the DFB-Pokal, becoming Dortmund's youngest goalscorer in a competitive match. He also became the youngest Englishman to start a UEFA Champions League match when he faced Lazio in October 2020.

Bellingham made 46 appearances in all competitions during his first season and helped Dortmund win the 2020-21 DFB-Pokal. He was voted the club's Newcomer of the Season by his fellow players and finished runner-up to Barcelona's Pedri for the 2021 Kopa Trophy. In his final Dortmund season, he won the Bundesliga Player of the Season award after helping the club finish as league runners-up, and he later won the 2023 Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy award.

Real Madrid signed Bellingham in 2023 on a six-year contract, and he took the number 5 shirt in tribute to his idol, Zinedine Zidane. He scored on his La Liga debut against Athletic Bilbao, followed by two goals and an assist for Vinícius Júnior against Almería. A late winner against Celta Vigo helped him become the first English player to win the La Liga Player of the Month award.

Bellingham scored in each of his first four competitive appearances for Madrid and matched Cristiano Ronaldo's total of 10 goals in his first 10 matches. He scored twice against Barcelona in his first El Clásico, including a stoppage-time winner, and became the first Real Madrid player to score in his La Liga and Champions League debuts and in El Clásico. His 2023-24 season ended with La Liga and Champions League titles, 19 league goals, the La Liga Player of the Season award, and the UEFA Champions League Young Player of the Season award. In the Champions League final, he assisted Vinícius Júnior's goal in Madrid's victory over Borussia Dortmund.

Bellingham also contributed to Real Madrid's 2024 UEFA Super Cup victory by assisting Kylian Mbappé's debut goal. After shoulder surgery in July 2025, he returned earlier than expected and scored match-winning goals against Juventus in the Champions League and Barcelona in La Liga.

Bellingham represented England at under-15, under-16, under-17 and under-21 level. He captained the under-16 side and led England under-17s to the 2019 Syrenka Cup, scoring during the tournament and being named its player of the tournament. He became England under-21's youngest player and youngest goalscorer when he scored against Kosovo in September 2020.

Bellingham made his senior England debut against the Republic of Ireland in November 2020 at 17 years and 136 days, becoming England's third-youngest full international. At Euro 2020, he became the youngest Englishman to play at a major tournament and the youngest player of any nationality to appear at a European Championship at that time. He scored his first senior international goal against Iran at the 2022 World Cup, becoming the first person born in the 21st century to score in a World Cup.

At Euro 2024, Bellingham scored a 95th-minute overhead kick against Slovakia to send the match into extra time and later helped England reach the final, where they finished as runners-up to Spain. He also scored the equaliser against Spain in the final of the 2024 European Championship. At the 2026 World Cup, he helped England finish third and scored seven goals, the most by an England player in a single World Cup tournament, earning the Bronze Boot.

Bellingham is known for his ball control, physicality, technical ability, vision and versatility. His style combines defensive work with attacking movement, allowing him to win possession, carry the ball forward, resist pressure, create chances and score. Analysts have described him as a complete or do-it-all midfielder because of his ability to contribute across the pitch.

After joining Real Madrid, Bellingham adopted a more advanced role, often playing as a number 10 or attacking midfielder and sometimes operating as a false nine or second striker. This tactical change increased his involvement in the final third and contributed to his prolific goalscoring start in Spain. His major individual honours include the Bundesliga Player of the Season award for 2022-23, the 2023 Kopa Trophy, the 2023 Golden Boy award, the 2024 Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year award and three consecutive FIFPRO World 11 selections from 2023 through 2025.