"It feels like I signed ages ago" - Jobe Bellingham at home at Borussia Dortmund

Jobe Bellingham says he already has his feet under the table at Borussia Dortmund, following his June switch from English Premier League outfit Sunderland.

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Bellingham made four appearances for Dortmund at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in the weeks that followed his transfer. He also started the recent pre-season friendly wins over Siegen and Lille, in a taster of things to come.

"It feels like I signed ages ago. I already feel part of the team and the club, but I can't wait for the games to start in Germany," the 19-year-old midfielder told a media roundtable at his new employers' pre-season training camp in Austria.

"Playing in America is nice, but it doesn't really feel like the reason why you sign for Borussia Dortmund."

Watch: Bellingham & Co. meet Dortmund fans in Austria

Older brother Jude's experience at Dortmund, where he went from budding talent to world football star, signing for Real Madrid in summer 2023, also had a role to play in BVB becoming Jobe's first foreign club.

"I called him as soon as I knew I was going to sign with Dortmund [...] He just said he was extremely proud. He smiled a lot, he laughed a lot, but he just said I should embrace it," recalled the Englishman.

"Our conversations aren't usually that serious, but he just says that I should embrace it because the club is so big and unique. If you really embrace it, it will be an incredible experience."

Jobe (l.) watched Jude's (r.) Real Madrid beat Dortmund in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League final. - IMAGO/Kieran McManus/Shutterstock

About the players 77 Jobe Samuel Patrick Bellingham Borussia Dortmund

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Aside from elevating his game at a club renowned the world over for player development, the younger Bellingham has his eyes trained on helping the Black-Yellows win their first major trophy since a team including his older sibling, countryman Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland lifted the 2020/21 DFB Cup.

"Why wouldn't you want to join a club like this and achieve great things? It's a club that has been robbed of the big moment it deserves in recent years," he said, citing the 2023/24 Champions League final loss to Jude's Real and the final-day drama of 2022/23, when Dortmund were pipped to the Bundesliga title by Bayern Munich on goal difference.

"I've been to the stadium and I know what the fans think and feel. They long for the championship, don't they? For me, it's: 'why not?' I don't know why I would come to a club like this without wanting to achieve everything that is possible.

"I think we have the foundations to do that. We have to keep showing our quality in the Bundesliga and in the cup competitions.

Bellingham registered a goal and assist in four FIFA Club World Cup 2025 appearances. - Michael Reaves

To that end, Bellingham says he is willing to do whatever it takes as the five-time Bundesliga champions attempt to build on last season's late surge up the standings from 10th to fourth under head coach Niko Kovač.

"I have complete faith in the coach and what he thinks is best for me and the team. So far, I've been playing a bit more offensively than last season, but I don't feel uncomfortable in these positions," the BVB No.77 said.

"His approach to training and games, his entire work ethic – it fits perfectly with how I want to improve and play. He's strict, passionate and understands the game so well because he has so much experience. I felt that he was the best person to entrust my future to."

Bellingham is expected to continue in the No.10 role when Dortmund face Juventus in their final pre-season friendly on 10 August.

They go to Rot-Weiss Essen in the DFB Cup first round eight days later, before beginning their Bundesliga campaign away to St. Pauli on 23 August.

Bellingham will also get the chance to potentially face brother Jude in the UEFA Champions League, after missing the Club World Cup quarter-final loss to Real through suspension.

"Higher level, bigger stage certainly, but the [Club World Cup] experience has put me in good stead," he said of the upcoming club calendar.

"I've heard a lot of people here have learned from [last season's experience], so I'm confident we can be more consistent. There's a good mix and we're just looking forward to it."

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