Jobe Bellingham Becomes Borussia Dortmund’s “Training Champion” as He Fights to Save His BVB Dream

From Nightmare Start to Training Champion: How Jude Bellingham’s Brother Is Trying to Turn His Borussia Dortmund Spell Around

When Jobe Bellingham arrived at Borussia Dortmund last summer, the storyline almost wrote itself. Another Bellingham. Another English midfielder. Another young talent stepping onto the famous yellow-and-black conveyor belt that had already transformed his older brother Jude into a global superstar.

But football rarely follows scripts.

Six months into his Bundesliga adventure, Jobe Bellingham’s move to Borussia Dortmund has felt less like a fairytale and more like a slow-burning test of character. Expectations were sky-high, comparisons unavoidable, and patience in short supply. Yet, while the numbers on the pitch have told a frustrating story, reports from inside the club suggest something very different is happening behind the scenes.

According to German outlet BILD, Jobe Bellingham has earned an unexpected new label at Dortmund: the club’s “training champion.”

Living in Jude’s Shadow at Borussia Dortmund

There is no escaping the context. Jude Bellingham’s rise at Dortmund was nothing short of spectacular. From teenage prodigy to midfield general, he dominated the Bundesliga, captained the side on European nights, and left for Real Madrid as one of the most complete young players in world football.

Jobe, by contrast, arrived with quieter credentials. His development at Sunderland was impressive, but it came in the unforgiving environment of the Championship rather than the Champions League. Still, Dortmund believed in the family DNA, the mentality, and the potential ceiling.

What perhaps wasn’t fully appreciated was how heavy the weight of the Bellingham name would feel once things didn’t immediately click.

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A Difficult Start to Life in Germany

On paper, Jobe Bellingham’s first half-season doesn’t look disastrous. Twenty-seven appearances across all competitions is not nothing. But footballers, especially attacking midfielders, are judged by output, and this is where the doubts began to creep in.

One goal. Three assists. For a player signed to inject energy, drive, and creativity into Dortmund’s midfield rotation, those numbers raised eyebrows. Performances were often tidy rather than decisive. Promising moments faded too quickly. Confidence seemed fragile.

In Germany, the word Fehleinkauf — a bad signing — is never far away when expectations aren’t met. Whispers of “flop” followed Bellingham through the Westfalenstadion corridors, amplified by the unavoidable comparisons to Jude.

Every loose touch was magnified. Every anonymous performance dissected. Being a young footballer is hard enough; being Jude Bellingham’s brother at Borussia Dortmund is another level entirely.

Why Dortmund Haven’t Given Up on Jobe Bellingham

Despite the outside noise, Dortmund’s internal stance has reportedly remained calm. The club has seen this movie before. Young players arrive, struggle, adapt, and eventually flourish.

What has impressed Dortmund’s coaching staff is not what Jobe Bellingham has done on matchdays, but what he has shown Monday to Friday.

According to BILD, Bellingham has been nicknamed the “training champion” by club staff. It’s not a marketing slogan or a throwaway compliment. It’s a reflection of consistency, intensity, and attitude.

He reportedly trains harder than almost anyone in the squad. Extra sessions. Gym work. Tactical discussions. A willingness to listen. No sulking, no excuses, no hiding behind his surname.

In a dressing room full of talent, that matters.

The Physical Issue Dortmund Believe Is Holding Him Back

Perhaps the most interesting revelation from Germany is Dortmund’s belief that Bellingham’s struggles are not technical or mental, but physical.

The assessment from club staff is blunt: Jobe Bellingham is “too massive.”

It sounds harsh, but it comes with important context. At Sunderland, physical strength was an asset. The Championship is relentless, direct, and combative. Bulking up helped Bellingham survive, compete, and impose himself.

The Bundesliga is different.

German football demands speed of thought, speed of movement, and constant pressing. Midfielders are expected to turn quickly, cover huge distances, and operate in tight spaces at high tempo. According to Dortmund’s sports science team, Bellingham’s added muscle mass is limiting his agility and explosiveness.

In short, he’s built for the Championship, not yet tailored for the Bundesliga.

A Radical Physical Transformation Plan

Dortmund’s response hasn’t been to bench him indefinitely or lose faith. Instead, they’ve drawn up a targeted physical transformation plan.

The aim is not to make Bellingham weaker, but leaner. Less bulk. More mobility. Sharper acceleration. Quicker changes of direction.

It’s a delicate process. Lose too much muscle and you risk injury or reduced dueling ability. But Dortmund believe that streamlining his physique will allow Bellingham’s natural footballing instincts to shine through.

The comparison to Jude is inevitable here. Jude’s frame at Dortmund was deceptively powerful but never heavy. He glided across the pitch, combining strength with elasticity. The club believes Jobe can rediscover a similar balance.

Crucially, Bellingham is fully committed to the plan.

Mental Strength Behind the Scenes

What often gets lost in discussions about form and fitness is mentality. By all accounts, Jobe Bellingham has shown remarkable resilience.

There has been no public frustration. No cryptic social media posts. No leaks to friendly journalists. Instead, he has doubled down on his work.

That attitude has not gone unnoticed inside Dortmund. Senior figures reportedly see a player who understands that development is rarely linear, especially when moving countries at a young age.

New league. New language. New culture. New tactical demands. Add the weight of expectation, and struggles become understandable rather than alarming.

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Dortmund’s History of Patience Pays Off

Borussia Dortmund have built their reputation on development rather than instant gratification. They know that young players often need time.

Robert Lewandowski struggled initially. Ilkay Gündogan took time to settle. Henrikh Mkhitaryan endured a frustrating first season before becoming one of the league’s standout performers.

The club believes Jobe Bellingham fits that pattern. A slow burn rather than an overnight sensation.

Labeling him “training champion” is not just praise — it’s a statement of belief.

A Second Half of the Season as a Fresh Start

For Bellingham, the second half of the season represents a reset. The physical changes won’t happen overnight, but marginal gains can make a big difference.

Sharper movement leads to more involvement. More involvement breeds confidence. Confidence unlocks output.

If he can translate his training-ground intensity into competitive matches, the narrative around his Dortmund spell could shift quickly.

Football memories are short. A couple of strong performances under the lights at Signal Iduna Park can erase months of doubt.

Writing His Own Story at Borussia Dortmund

Perhaps the most important thing for Jobe Bellingham is this: he doesn’t need to be Jude.

Dortmund don’t expect him to be Jude. They want him to be the best version of Jobe — a player with his own strengths, rhythm, and identity.

The early months may have felt like a nightmare, but they may yet prove essential. Many careers are shaped not by easy starts, but by how players respond when things go wrong.

Right now, Jobe Bellingham is responding the right way: quietly, relentlessly, and on the training pitch.

At Borussia Dortmund, that often counts for more than headlines.