Jude Bellingham's Journey from Birmingham City to the UEFA Champions League Final

The story of an over £100m transfer, a trademark celebration, late winning goals in El Clasico, a La Liga championship, a Champions League final appearance and even an unprecedented jersey retirement all come into focus when talking about one particular player. A player who has been heralded as the best in Madrid and Spain, and perhaps, the world. All of these accolades, he has achieved before the age of 21.

We're discussing Jude Bellingham, a footballer whose skill and prowess make him appear way beyond this world. It's as if he was sent to rescue and dominate the world of soccer, and aim to return back home with the UEFA Champions League trophy and the Ballon d'Or in his possession.

Though he seems otherworldly on the pitch, Bellingham hails from Birmingham, associated with Birmingham City Football Club more specifically. The club is considered the second biggest in its city and has a history of only two major wins.

So, how did a player of such caliber emerge from this club and come to spearhead a new era of Galaticos at Real Madrid?

Bellingham's journey began in Stourbridge, a small town outside Birmingham, with his football career taking off under the guidance of his father Mark at Stourbridge Juniors. The precocious talent was soon picked up by the Academy scouts of Birmingham City when he was only eight.

Bellingham's progression through the Birmingham City youth system was swift. He played for under-18s at 14, graduated to under-23s by 15, distinguishing himself by scoring a winning goal against Nottingham Forest. It wasn't long before he was called up to make his senior debut.

At an unbelievable 16 years and 38 days old, he stepped into senior football with his debut game in the EFL Cup first round against Portsmouth. Though it was a humble start, it was a solid foundation towards what was to come.

Gareth Evans, a former Portsmouth player who watched Bellingham's debut from the sidelines, remembers the anticipation about the young player. He recalls how quickly he realized that Bellingham's talents were exceptional.

Within a month of making history as the club's youngest player, Bellingham went on to become the club's youngest goalscorer too, scoring the winning goal against Stoke City in the Championship. He quickly became a fixture in the starting XI, playing 41 Championship games in his first season and scooping up the EFL Young Player of the Season award.

From Manchester United to Borussia Dortmund, heavyweights of European soccer started noticing his performances. In 2020, impressive efforts were made by Manchester United to persuade Bellingham to join them, with legends like Sir Alex Ferguson, Eric Cantona and Bryan Robson involved in the negotiations.

However, Borussia Dortmund's reputation for honing young English talent won Bellingham over, echoing Jadon Sancho's move a few years prior.

Bellingham's move to Borussia Dortmund generated many headlines, mainly due to its record-breaking fee for a 17-year-old - £25m. Dortmund's successful strategy of drawing promising English talents to Bundesliga also grabbed attention. Above all, Birmingham City's landmark decision to retire Bellingham's number 22 likewise sparked a great deal of discussion.

Now, looking at the accomplished player he's become four years later, Birmingham City's record of retiring his number is hardly contentious.

After an expected transition phase in Germany, Bellingham, just like in his tenure at Birmingham City, started rewriting club records.

In his debut for the club in the DFB-Pokal clash with MSV Duisburg, he became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer. One month later, Bellingham became the youngest Englishman to ever play in the Champions League by featuring against Lazio in the group stages. And by the end of the 2020/21 season, the midfielder had become a regular in both European and domestic competitions for Dortmund, even winning the first silverware of his career, the DFB-Pokal, thanks to a final win over RB Leipzig at a packed Olympiastadion.

And while that would be the only silverware he’d lift during his time at Dortmund, his individual performances would continue to improve. A team of the season nod in 2021/22 was followed by a Bundesliga player of the season award the following year, and he even won the prestigious Kopa Trophy.

By the summer of 2023, Bellingham had the footballing world at his feet.

Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid came calling, with the latter winning the race to sign the hottest prospect in world football. 

The opportunity to become a Galatico, and follow in the footsteps of one of his two footballing idols in Zinedine Zidane - the other is Lee Bowyer if you’re wondering - swayed Bellingham to join Madrid.

'My dad had a fake Zidane shirt that he had bought on the beach. He took it everywhere, often at home. One day I asked him: ‘By the way, who is that guy?’ He replied: ‘Go on YouTube and check him out'. Since then, I probably haven’t stopped,' revealed Bellingham.

“Zidane was the player I wanted to be.'

Burdened with a huge £115m fee, the legendary number five jersey previously worn by Zidane and the pressure of replacing Saudi Arabia-bound Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema in the lineup, there was a lot expected of Bellingham right from the off at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

Those expectations were exceeded. Remarkably.

Moved into almost a false nine role between Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo by Carlo Ancelotti, the goals soon began to flow at a record rate. 

Bellingham became the first player since Cristiano Ronaldo to score in his first four La Liga games for Real Madrid. Then it was the record for most goals in a player’s first 15 games for Madrid which came tumbling down. And by February, he was the club’s highest scoring midfielder of the 21st century in a single La Liga season.

Yes, beating Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and even his idol Zidane. 

His 23 goals and 10 assists in all competitions have been tallied up at the most important times, too.

He scored a 95th-minute winner against Getafe to mark the reopening of the refurbished Bernabeu, a 93rd-minute winner was also netted against Union Berlin in the Champions League, And three famously came in El Clasico matches alone - two of which were late, late winners, and one of which essentially wrapped up the La Liga title for Los Blancos.

No stat padding here, folks. 

Bellingham’s goals have led to Madrid reclaiming the Spanish title and helped them to reach a record 18th Champions League final. 

So what's next for Jude Bellingham?

Well, the small matter of the biggest game of his career to date.

A game in which his idol Zidane scored one of the greatest goals in history in back in 2001.

A game in which he can go from world class, to legendary.

And he can do so at his home nation's Wembley Stadium, and against Borussia Dortmund - a club that helped him on his journey to greatness.

The number on his back and his performances thus far suggest he'll do it.

On June 1, we'll find out.