Birmingham City supporters have witnessed many gifted footballers pull on the blue shirt over the years, but few moments are remembered as fondly as the club’s shock 2–1 victory over Arsenal in the 2011 League Cup final, sealed by goals from Nikola Žigić and Obafemi Martins. That triumph stands out as a rare high point during a period that soon turned difficult for the club.
Later that same year, Birmingham were relegated from the Premier League, beginning a prolonged spell outside the top flight. The club remained in the Championship for more than a decade before suffering another setback with relegation to League One in 2024. Despite those struggles, brighter days eventually returned. By 2025, Birmingham had rebuilt impressively, storming to the League One title with a remarkable total of 111 points, giving their supporters renewed optimism and pride.
Among the club’s greatest modern success stories is Jude Bellingham, who progressed through Birmingham City’s academy and emerged as a first-team regular during the 2019/20 Championship season. That campaign would prove to be his only one with the Blues before securing a major move abroad. Despite his young age, Bellingham’s composure and maturity quickly marked him out as a special talent.
The 2019/20 season was heavily disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, with football suspended for several months before eventually resuming and concluding during the summer. Even amid these unusual circumstances, Bellingham remained unfazed. He featured prominently throughout the campaign, making 41 league appearances while contributing four goals and two assists, performances that underlined his growing influence in midfield.
Bellingham made his senior debut in August 2019 during an EFL Cup match against Portsmouth, becoming Birmingham City’s youngest-ever first-team player at just 16 years and 38 days old. Less than three weeks later, he made his Championship debut, coming off the bench in a 3–0 defeat away to Swansea City. These early appearances hinted at a player destined for far bigger stages.
Reports from Birmingham Live later revealed that Bellingham had already attracted interest from elite clubs across Europe even before making his senior debut. Despite this, Birmingham resisted the temptation to sell early and instead allowed him to complete a full season of first-team football. That patience proved hugely beneficial for the club.
In the summer of 2020, Birmingham sold Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund for a reported fee of £25 million, according to Sky Sports, a staggering sum for a 17-year-old and a vital financial boost for the club. The decision to hold onto him rather than cash in prematurely ultimately resulted in a significant windfall.
Bellingham wasted no time making an impact in Germany. During his first season at Borussia Dortmund, he made 46 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals and providing four assists. He also collected his first major trophy, winning the German Cup, while rapidly establishing himself as an indispensable part of the squad.
His upward trajectory continued at international level. Just over two years after leaving Birmingham, Bellingham was named in England’s squad for the 2022 World Cup. He announced himself on the global stage by scoring England’s opening goal of the tournament in a dominant 6–2 victory over Iran, confirming that his rise had been anything but accidental.
Bellingham’s development did not slow down after his Dortmund success. In the summer of 2023, he completed another blockbuster move, this time to European giants Real Madrid. Since arriving in Spain, he has enjoyed extraordinary success, helping the club win La Liga, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Spanish Super Cup.
While both Birmingham City and Borussia Dortmund supporters always believed in his immense talent, one aspect of Bellingham’s evolution may have come as a surprise. Early in his career, he operated primarily as a deep-lying midfielder, a role he continued to perform frequently in the Bundesliga. However, at Real Madrid he was deployed far further forward, even operating as a false nine during his debut season.
That tactical shift paid off spectacularly. In the 2023/24 La Liga campaign, Bellingham finished as the division’s third-highest goalscorer, an outcome few would have predicted based on his earlier roles in England and Germany. His goal-scoring exploits in Spain highlighted just how adaptable and complete a player he had become.
Ultimately, Bellingham’s journey serves as a testament to Birmingham City’s decision-making. By resisting early transfer interest and allowing him to develop at senior level before selling, the club not only maximised his value but also played a crucial role in laying the foundations for a player who would go on to reach the very top of European football.
