Jobe Bellingham has admitted to feeling “anxieties” about following in the footsteps of his older brother, Jude, after making a high-profile move to Borussia Dortmund this summer.
The 19-year-old joined the Bundesliga giants in June from Sunderland, shortly after their promotion to the Premier League. His older brother, Jude, spent three successful years at Dortmund before moving to Real Madrid in 2023, where he has since established himself as a global superstar and a key figure in England’s national team.
Speaking during Dortmund’s pre-season camp in Austria on Tuesday, Jobe acknowledged the pressure that comes with the Bellingham name.
“It’s something you do think about. You have these anxieties, especially me as I’m only young,” he told reporters. “I’m not perfect. I do think about these things, but that was down to the club convincing me that these things wouldn’t have much bearing on me.
This was a decision I made and it’s for myself. My journey is not anyone else’s to understand.”
Jobe made his Dortmund debut at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, where he impressed with a goal and an assist across four appearances.
Like he did at Sunderland, he wears “Jobe” on the back of his shirt — a deliberate choice to distinguish his identity and ease comparisons with Jude.
On his brother’s reaction to the move, he said:
“He’s extremely proud — he didn’t have much to say other than ‘embrace it.’ Our conversations aren’t usually that serious.”
Unlike Jude, who often plays as an attacking midfielder, Jobe typically operates in a deeper role and says his goals are more about performance than fame.
“I don’t want to be a superstar… I don’t want to be a big character away from the pitch. When I play, I just want to be one of the highest-performing players and get my head down.”
Borussia Dortmund are set to begin their new season on August 18 when they take on Essen in the first round of the German Cup.