Jobe Bellingham's call-up to the England senior side marks a historic moment for the footballing family. The 21-year-old follows in the footsteps of his 23-year-old brother Jude, with both rising through the Birmingham City academy before making big-money moves to the German Bundesliga. Jobe's debut for Birmingham came at 16 years and 107 days, just 69 days older than Jude was when he first played for the Blues.
After helping Sunderland win promotion to the Premier League, Jobe joined Borussia Dortmund at 19 in a deal worth up to £31m. Jude also moved to Dortmund at 17 before becoming one of the world's best players at Real Madrid. England manager Thomas Tuchel called it "a beautiful story," noting the brothers' close relationship and how Jobe's presence in camp is eased by his sibling's leadership.
Despite comparisons, Jobe wears 'Jobe' on his shirt to show he's "going my own way." He plays deeper than Jude but is equally physical and good on the ball. Currently captain of the England Under-21 side, Jobe earned his senior call-up through his own merits after an excellent start to the season at Dortmund. Tuchel emphasized he's here on merit, not because of his brother.
With Myles Lewis-Skelly suspended and Alex Scott injured, Tuchel sees a natural opportunity opening up. "It's an incredible achievement for the family," he said. If they play together, the Bellinghams would be the first England brothers in 19 years, following Gary and Phil Neville's last joint appearance in 2005.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing