Jobe Bellingham agrees to join Borussia Dortmund in major £25 million transfer from Sunderland after Ibiza talks with German club

It looks like Borussia Dortmund is about to welcome another member of the Bellingham family.

Jobe Bellingham, the 19-year-old rising star from Sunderland, is now on the verge of making the leap to the Bundesliga, just like his big brother Jude did a few years back.

Sources close to the club have shared that Jobe has all but committed to the move, following some encouraging face-to-face discussions with Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl.

And where did those talks happen? Not in Germany, but under the Ibiza sun — proving once again that major football deals don’t always go down in boardrooms.

A Familiar Path with a Familiar Price Tag

The transfer is expected to cost Dortmund around £25 million, with 15 percent of that sum going to Birmingham City, the club where Jobe began his career.

That price may sound steep for a teenager, but Dortmund clearly sees potential — and they have history on their side.

Jude Bellingham’s stellar development at the German club from 2020 to 2023 likely helped convince both Jobe and his family that this was the right step.

Other Clubs Tried — But Dortmund Had the Edge

Jobe wasn’t short of options. He recently sat down with Eintracht Frankfurt and also held discussions with RB Leipzig.

But from the start, Dortmund seemed to have the upper hand.

Why? Because they could offer something no other club could: a direct and proven path from promising young talent to international stardom — one that Jude himself had taken not so long ago.

That legacy carried weight in the Bellingham household.

From Sunderland to the Spotlight

Jobe’s stock has been rising fast. He just helped Sunderland win promotion to the Premier League, a major achievement in itself.

But instead of staying in England to test himself in the top flight, he’s choosing a new challenge overseas — a move focused clearly on long-term development.

It’s no surprise, really. Jude has openly praised his time in Germany and how it shaped his career.

That glowing feedback clearly made an impression and helped shape Jobe’s decision to follow a similar route.

Big Stage Awaits

Dortmund, meanwhile, are preparing for a packed and competitive year.

They finished fourth in the Bundesliga, which means Champions League football is on the cards once again.

And that’s not all — they’ll also be part of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup this summer, where they’ll line up in Group F alongside Fluminense, Ulsan, and Mamelodi Sundowns.

If Jobe joins in time, he could be thrown into the mix quickly — giving him a chance to experience international competition from the get-go.