Will Jobe Bellingham Start for Borussia Dortmund?

Niko Kovac Reveals Club World Cup Plan as New Signing Awaits Debut

There’s a buzz of anticipation around Borussia Dortmund’s latest addition, Jobe Bellingham. But despite the fanfare surrounding his high-profile transfer from Sunderland, it appears the 19-year-old midfield talent will need to bide his time before making his mark in the starting XI. Head coach Niko Kovac has made it clear: Jobe’s journey in yellow and black is only just beginning, and his full integration into the squad will require patience.

WHAT HAPPENED?

After sealing a €33 million (£28m/$38m) move earlier this month—a record fee received by Sunderland—Jobe Bellingham has officially joined Borussia Dortmund and linked up with his new teammates during their Club World Cup preparations in the United States. While the move has understandably drawn comparisons to his older brother Jude’s iconic stint at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund are treading carefully with the teenager’s development.

WHAT NIKO KOVAC SAID

Jobe Bellingham Borussia Dortmund 2025-26

Speaking during a press conference ahead of Dortmund’s opening match in the FIFA Club World Cup, Niko Kovac laid out his strategy regarding Jobe Bellingham’s immediate future.

“To anticipate this: He will not play from the start because the one week since he joined us is not enough to internalize all our processes and all our principles,” Kovac said candidly. “In addition, priority is given to those who have played so successfully in the last few Bundesliga games.”

It’s a pragmatic approach from the Dortmund boss, and one that underscores the importance of continuity and fairness in squad selection. After all, the players who finished the 2024-25 Bundesliga season on a high are the ones who currently deserve to retain their starting spots.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite his young age, Jobe Bellingham arrives in Germany with considerable hype—and rightly so. A versatile midfielder known for his physical presence and mature decision-making, Jobe Bellingham was a standout performer for Sunderland, notching several crucial goals and assists during the Championship campaign.

Dortmund’s faith in his potential is clear from the transfer fee alone. The club has a proven track record of nurturing young talent, with Jobe Bellingham being the most recent and notable example. Jude’s rapid rise through the ranks in Dortmund laid the groundwork for his move to Real Madrid, and many fans are hoping his younger brother can forge a similarly impressive path.

But while Jude hit the ground running, Kovac is keen to ensure that Jobe is not rushed. According to German media, Dortmund have earmarked two specific roles for him in the midfield: one as a classic number eight in a deeper, transitional role, and the other in a more advanced, attacking position. Both roles require intricate knowledge of Dortmund’s tactical setup, which Jobe is still absorbing.

BALANCING EXPECTATIONS AND REALITY

The transition from English football to the Bundesliga is rarely seamless, especially for young players moving abroad for the first time. Jobe Bellingham’s case is no different. He’s been praised for his composure and maturity at Sunderland, but Dortmund represents an entirely new level—both in terms of pressure and playing style.

Kovac’s strategy reflects a deep understanding of that transition. Rather than throwing the teenager into the deep end, he’s building a gradual adaptation process designed to set Jobe Bellingham up for long-term success. “You cannot underestimate how difficult it is to arrive mid-preseason and expect to play immediately,” Kovac noted. “He will get his chance, but we must be responsible with his development.”

FROM SUNDERLAND TO SIGNAL IDUNA PARK

Jobe’s journey to Dortmund is more than just another transfer story—it’s a narrative of growth, ambition, and potential. At Sunderland, he had already begun to carve out his own legacy, away from the looming shadow of his brother. But moving to one of Europe’s most prominent clubs brings a new wave of pressure.

His time at Sunderland provided the foundation: a robust Championship education, where the pace is relentless and the physicality unforgiving. That background should serve him well in Germany, even as the Bundesliga offers different tactical demands and a more possession-oriented game.

“He’s a quick learner,” a Dortmund training staff member noted during a session in the U.S. “You can already see that he’s absorbing instructions and trying to mirror what’s being asked. The foundation is there.”

WHAT NEXT FOR JOBE BELLINGHAM?

Jobe Bellingham

Dortmund’s Club World Cup campaign kicks off against Fluminense on Tuesday. While Jobe Bellingham is not expected to start, fans may still get their first glimpse of him in a black and yellow kit as a second-half substitute. Even limited minutes on the pitch could be significant for both player and club.

Looking ahead, Jobe Bellingham’s preseason performances and training progression will determine how soon he can stake a claim for a starting spot. The midfield is stacked with talent and competition is fierce, but that’s precisely the kind of environment that Dortmund believes will bring out the best in him.

In many ways, this is a familiar script for Borussia Dortmund: a promising young talent arrives with enormous expectations, and the club carefully crafts a developmental path designed to unleash that potential. The difference this time is the name on the back of the shirt—one that already carries weight.

But Jobe Bellingham is not here to follow in Jude’s footsteps. He’s here to blaze his own trail. And if all goes to plan, Dortmund fans might soon be celebrating another Jobe Bellingham making headlines at Signal Iduna Park.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Whether he starts against Fluminense or not, one thing is certain: the Jobe Bellingham era at Borussia Dortmund has officially begun. For now, the spotlight can wait. What matters most is the groundwork being laid behind the scenes—the training sessions, the tactical briefings, the quiet conversations between coach and player.

Kovac’s message is clear: this isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. And for a 19-year-old with so much ahead of him, that might just be the perfect pace.