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Bellingham’s reunion with the club that shaped him
- Real Madrid face Borussia Dortmund in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals
- Jude Bellingham spent several seasons starring at the German side before a switch to Spain
- Younger brother Jobe has just joined Dortmund, although he is suspended for their last eight meeting
Jude Bellingham finds himself once more confronted with his past. Real Madrid C.F. take on Borussia Dortmund in the FIFA Club World Cup™ quarter-finals, and naturally, the spotlight falls upon the England star, one of the tournament’s standout names.
Los Blancos arrived at the global showpiece following a gruelling European season and have handled their opening assignments with characteristic authority. Bellingham, 22, has chipped in with a goal and an assist across four matches, showing the same composure that defined his rise in Germany.
A return to his formative years
The clash against the German side is more than just another match for Bellingham. It is a return to the club that shaped his identity, as a footballer, a leader and a young man. He pitched up in Dortmund in 2020, a precociously gifted 17-year-old from Birmingham City already marked out as one of English football’s brightest prospects. At Signal Iduna Park, he quickly justified every euro invested, earning his Bundesliga debut, cementing a place in the starting XI and, in remarkably short order, donning the captain’s armband as the heartbeat of a team built on youthful exuberance.
Across three seasons at Dortmund he racked up 132 official appearances, contributing 24 goals and 25 assists. But his impact stretched beyond the numbers. He claimed the Bundesliga Player of the Season award in the 2022-23 campaign, and his leadership both on and off the pitch was on full display during the side’s biggest European nights. Moreover, his bond with the fans was instant. Charismatic and personable, he embodied the values of a club renowned for developing young talent.
He summed it up in an interview with Bundesliga.com: “Borussia Dortmund will always have a special place in my heart. It was the club that gave me the opportunity to compete at the highest level at such a young age. It’s where I matured both as a player and as a person.”
These words explain why his departure was tinged with both gratitude and heartbreak. The Bundesliga title slipped from his grasp on the final day of the 2022-23 season, as the German giants were held to a draw by Mainz when only a win would do. Bellingham, hampered by knee trouble, watched from the sidelines, powerless to alter the outcome.
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Family ties and an enduring legacy
Off the pitch, Bellingham wove deep connections throughout Germany. He struck up a close friendship with Erling Haaland, with whom he shared dressing-room banter and confidences. He also bonded with Reinier, then on a loan spell from Real Madrid and still on the books at the Spanish club.
His life in Dortmund, characterised by discretion and relentless application, kept him out of the spotlight and allowed him to concentrate on his development. His days followed a quiet rhythm: training, coffee at his favourite spot in the city centre, strolls around town with family during their visits and the odd trip to Düsseldorf with team-mates for a taste of the big city.
His maturity paved the way to Real Madrid, who moved decisively to secure one of Europe’s most sought-after midfielders. Since arriving at the Bernabeu, Bellingham has responded with the same composure and drive that saw him flourish at Dortmund.
Across two seasons in the Spanish capital, he has delivered crucial goals in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. And now, at the Club World Cup, he continues to step up when the team need him most. His game marries physicality, finesse and vision with a presence that echoes the great midfield generals of Los Blancos’ storied history.
As a Madridista, Bellingham has already faced Dortmund twice in the Champions League, once in the league phase and once in the 2024 final at Wembley, where he featured in the starting XI and helped deliver the trophy. In those encounters, he made his mark, registering two assists against his former club and reminding them of the talent they helped to shape.
This reunion carries a familial twist, although his brother Jobe, who joined Dortmund from Sunderland in the summer, will miss the match through suspension. With his arrival, the German side hopes to continue the Bellingham legacy at Signal Iduna Park, preserving the family’s bond with the fans and marking a new chapter in the club’s long-standing tradition of cultivating young talent. Their mother, Denise, is closely involved in Jude’s career and lives with him in Madrid, while their father, Mark, works more directly with Jobe, although he represents both sons in club negotiations.
Los Blancos recognise that Bellingham is one of the sharpest weapons they have to navigate the quarter-finals and edge closer to another final. The Englishman combines boundless energy, box-to-box instincts and the big-match know-how of someone who has played under pressure since his teens. The steel forged in Dortmund now gleams in white. This is a story about reunion, growth and the belief shared by two clubs that youth, if trusted, can shape the present as well as the future.
