Bellingham brothers close in on first England appearance together as Birmingham fans reflect on their legacy
Jude and Jobe Bellingham could become the first siblings to play for England in 19 years, while Birmingham City supporters credit the brothers' transfer fees with helping revive the club.
Jude and Jobe Bellingham could become the first brothers to play for England in 19 years if Jobe wins his first cap and lines up alongside Jude in the Nations League match against Croatia at Wembley. Jude, 23, is now at Real Madrid after spells at Birmingham City and Borussia Dortmund, while Jobe, 21, is continuing his development in Germany after two seasons with Sunderland. The pair never appeared together in a senior match for Birmingham, as Jude had left by the time Jobe broke into the first team in 2022.
The Stourbridge-born midfielders came through Birmingham's academy and played 70 league and cup games between them for the club. Jude became Birmingham's youngest-ever player when he debuted at 16 years and 38 days in 2019, and Jobe became the second youngest when he first appeared in January 2022. Supporters still pose for photographs in front of Jude's mural outside St Andrew's and wear Bellingham shirts on match days.
Craig Courtney, from the Tilton Talk fan podcast, told BBC Sport that both players had a real connection with supporters, saying they cared and helped Birmingham while the club was fighting relegation. He added that it would be an incredibly proud moment for Birmingham City if the brothers played together for England. He also argued that the club's current position at the top of the Championship and plans for a new 62,000-capacity stadium might not have been possible without the fees received for Jude and Jobe.
Jude signed his first professional contract with Birmingham in 2020 before joining Dortmund for an initial £20m during the Covid-19 pandemic, and Birmingham reportedly received a sell-on fee of at least £10m when he moved to Real Madrid in 2023. Jobe played 26 games before Sunderland paid £3m for him in 2023, with Birmingham reportedly receiving a £4m sell-on fee when he later joined Dortmund. Former Birmingham striker Troy Deeney said Jobe had a determination to write his own success story despite constant comparisons with his older brother.
Both players have returned to St Andrew's since leaving. Jobe captained England Under-21s to a 2-0 win against the Republic of Ireland there last November, and Jude watched a pre-season friendly against Barcelona from the stands in a Birmingham shirt. The club retired the number 22 shirt after Jude's departure. Jude has said on social media that playing alongside his brother for England would mean more to him than any trophy.
Image: Jude Bellingham Instagram / BBC Sport
