Borussia Dortmund's Jobe Bellingham: 'I'm not a young kid anymore'
Jobe Bellingham believes his debut season in Germany has prepared him to take on greater responsibility at Borussia Dortmund.
Speaking during Dortmund's Japan tour, Bellingham reflected on his first campaign at the club after joining from Sunderland. He made 49 appearances in all competitions, scoring once and providing five assists.
The English midfielder, who turns 21 in September, feels the demands of his maiden season in the German top flight have accelerated his development and and given him a clearer sense of what is required at Dortmund. "I've played a lot of games in my career, and I'm not a young kid anymore. There are a lot of players who are younger than me, and I feel like I've got the experience."
Watch: Jobe Bellingham interview
The younger brother of former Dortmund star Jude Bellingham, now at Real Madrid, believes those experiences have given him the confidence to make a bigger impact. "I think experience is about taking on board what you learn, not just playing in the games. I've had so many experiences to learn from in my career so far, and I feel like I can step up, improve, and do even more with the experience that I've got."
The Dortmund No.7 is also keen to pass that knowledge on to those around him, supporting younger teammates while helping the club achieve its ambitions. "If I can help people along the way, help the younger players, help my teammates, and it helps Borussia Dortmund be successful, then it's a win for everyone."
Away from the pitch, Bellingham has witnessed Dortmund's global appeal during the Japan tour. He said the media and marketing demands have been unlike those at his previous clubs, underlining the club's worldwide reach. "It shows how much Dortmund is adored. Not just in Germany, not just in Dortmund, but all over the world, which is amazing for me to see."
That global profile comes with increased expectations as Dortmund prepare for the new season after a strong 2025/26 campaign. They finished second in the Bundesliga with 73 points – the fifth-highest tally in the club's history – and will have the chance to lay down a marker against defending champions Bayern Munich in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup on 22 August, before opening their league campaign home to Hamburg a week later.
