English teenager Jude Bellingham has joined Bundesliga runners-up Borussia Dortmund from English Championship side Birmingham city, the German club announced Monday.
The 17-year-old has
signed a “long-term contract” and is to join the first team squad from July 30,
Dortmund said in a statement.
Neither club
disclosed further details, but the transfer fee is reported to be around 22
million euros ($25 million).
“I can’t thank
Birmingham City enough for what they have done for me, not just this past year
but since the age of seven,” said Bellingham.
“However, I’m
incredibly excited to have joined one of Europe’s biggest clubs. The direction
they are heading in and how much they help to improve young players made it an
easy decision for myself and my family.”
After the success
of Jadon Sancho, who broke into the England team in 2018 on the back of his
Dortmund performances, Bellingham hopes to be the latest Englishman to follow
in his footsteps.
“Jude has enormous
potential, and we want to help him develop in the coming years,” said Dortmund
sporting director Michael Zorc.
The German club
also posted a video on social media with first-team players singing the Beatles
hit “Hey Jude”.
Midfielder
Bellingham has long been linked with a move to Dortmund, having impressed at
Championship side Birmingham over the last 12 months.
He became the club’s
youngest ever first-team debutant last August, and has since made three
appearances for England Under-17s.
His displays for
Birmingham also attracted the attention of Manchester United, who reportedly
tried to sign him in January.
