Jude Bellingham: Real Madrid sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder and England international

The 19-year-old England sensation Jude Bellingham has been signed by Real Madrid in a deal that could reach around £115 million.

The Spanish La Liga giants are set to pay €103 million for the midfielder in addition to various potential add-ons and if these add-ons are achieved, the deal could reach the £115 million mark (€133.9m).

The 19-year-old started his career with Birmingham City before moving to the Bundesliga in 2020 where he played for Borussia Dortmund, finishing this season as the runners-up. He will now move to the Spanish capital after securing a deal on the opening day of the summer transfer season.

The initial fee also means that the England international becomes the second-most expensive English footballer after Jack Grealish. Manchester City paid Aston Villa £100m for the winger back in 2021. Bellingham has also become Real Madrid’s second-most expensive signing after the La Liga side paid €115m for Chelsea’s Eden Hazard back in 2019.

The 19-year-old has also joined Kylian Mbappe and Joao Felix has among the most expensive teenage signings. Monaco received €180 million from PSG for the French superstar in 2018 while Atletico Madrid paid €126 million to Benfica for Felix in 2019.

Here is all you need to know about Jude Bellingham ahead of his move to Spain...

Jude Bellingham’s career

Born in Stourbridge in 2003, Bellingham first started out playing for Birmingham City in the under-8 set-up. He made his senior team debut in August 2019, becoming the youngest ever first-team player at the age of 16 years and 38 days.

After playing regularly in the 2019-20 season, he was then signed by Bundesliga’s Borussia Dortmund for £25 million, becoming the most expensive 17-year-old in the history of football. He has since excellend for the German side, making further history last October when he became the club’s youngest captain at the age of 19. In his 42 appearances for the side, he has scored 14 goals and registered seven assists.

Bellingham has played for England since U15 level and received his first call up to the senior squad in November 2020. He made his debut in a friendly against Ireland and has since gone on to make 28 international appearances, scoring his first and currently only goal in England’s 6-2 win over Iran in the 2022 World Cup.

The midfielder was arguably England’s star player during the World Cup in Qatar and as well as his goal, he registered one assist and set up passes for three further goals.

What’s been said?

Dortmund announced on 7 June that a fee had been agreed and the club have since tweeted “Everyone in Dortmund wishes you the best of luck in your next adventure Jude!”