HEY JUDE!

Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham is the most talked-about young talent in European football and among the hottest properties in the global game.

- Dylan Appolis

With an estimated transfer value of €208 million, England international Jude Bellingham may be worth even more than Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland of Manchester City.

Bellingham grew up in the West Midlands town of Stourbridge and joined boyhood club Birmingham at seven, where he rose through the ranks at an unprecedented rate, playing for the club's under-23 side at the age of 15.

His big break in the first team came at the age of 16 years and 38 days, when he became the youngest ever player to feature for Birmingham's first team, breaking the 49-year record previously held by club legend Trevor Francis. He also becoming the club's youngest goal scorer a month later. 

Bellingham played an instrumental role in helping the Blues during the 2019/20 campaign in which he made 44 appearances across all competitions, while scoring four goals and assisting a further two in the process.

His consistent performances for the side from St Andrews proved to the world that he is a rising star and a special talent, and earned him a move to Borussia Dortmund, a club who are known for helping young player discover their true potential.