Jude Bellingham: Borussia Dortmund sign 17-year-old wonderkid from Birmingham City

Midfielder had also been linked with Manchester United

Jude Bellingham, 17, has joined German side Borussia Dortmund (Getty Images)

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed the signing of 17-year-old Birmingham City star Jude Bellingham.

The undisclosed transfer fee is believed to be in the region of £20 million, though Dortmund said in a statement that “financial terms of the deal will not be released”.

The Bundesliga side announced the news on Monday, posting a video in which their players deliver their own rendition of The Beatles’ classic ‘Hey Jude’ before the midfielder steps out at the Westfalenstadion.

Bellingham had been linked with Dortmund for months, but Premier League side Manchester United were also reported to be keen on recruiting the 17-year-old.

The midfielder came through Birmingham’s academy before becoming the club’s youngest ever first-team player when he made his senior debut in the Championship in August 2019. He was 16 at the time.

Bellingham, who has also represented England at under-15, U16 and U17 levels, scored four goals and recorded three assists for Birmingham this season. He will immediately enter Dortmund’s first-team squad.

“Jude Bellingham has decided with absolute confidence to pursue his career at Borussia Dortmund,” said Dortmund’s sporting director Michael Zorc. “The primary motivation behind his decision were the prospects on the pitch we were able to offer him.

“He has enormous potential, which we will continue to develop together with him over the coming years. He already boasts astonishing quality with and without the ball, and has a strong mentality to boot.

“Jude will immediately strengthen our first-team squad, but we will certainly give him all the time he needs to adapt to the higher level of play.”

Bellingham will join up with his new team on 30 July as they prepare for the upcoming season, beginning with a week-long training camp in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland.

As he did at Birmingham, Bellingham will wear the No22 jersey at Borussia Dortmund.

Dortmund were part of a closely fought title race in Germany’s top flight this term, but ultimately finished second as Bayern Munich won a record eighth consecutive Bundesliga trophy.