Transfer Centre

Borussia Dortmund 'still hopeful of new Jude Bellingham contract'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 17 January 2023

Dortmund 'still hopeful of new Bellingham contract'

Borussia Dortmund are reportedly still hopeful that star midfielder Jude Bellingham will sign a new contract at the club despite interest from a host of top European clubs.

The 19-year-old England international has excelled for club and county since leaving boyhood team Birmingham City in 2020 and he is now one of world most sought-after midfielders.

Premier League trio Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United have all been linked with Bellingham, as well as Spanish giants Real Madrid and French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

A report earlier this month claimed that Bellingham and his entourage were scheduled to meet with Dortmund's hierarchy to discuss the player's future at the club before the first-team squad flew to Marbella for a mid-season training camp.

The report also stated that Dortmund are 95% certain that Bellingham will ask to leave the club at the end of the season.

Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring for Borussia Dortmund on September 14, 2022 © Reuters

However, according to SPORT1 chief reporter Patrick Berger, Bellingham is yet to make a decision on his future and Dortmund are open to extending the midfielder's contract.

Berger adds that BVB are prepared to make the teenager the highest-paid player at the club, but they first want to determine whether he is willing to commit his future to the Bundesliga side.

Bellingham is under contract at Westfalenstadion until the summer of 2025, and is valued by Dortmund in the region of €150m (£133m).

Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl has confirmed that the club are yet to receive any offers for Bellingham and insists that it would be "stupid" to want to sell the midfielder.

Speaking to Kicker, Kehl said: "Jude has made an incredible development here. With the way he plays football, his fighting spirit and his commitment, he has become a real Borussia player who identifies very much with BVB.

England's Jude Bellingham pictured on September 26, 2022 © Reuters

"I can't say today if and when that will be the case with Jude, and from a purely sporting point of view I would be stupid to want to give up Jude Bellingham.

"We'll talk to him and his parents in due course. There is currently no pressure. Jude wants to concentrate fully on football. And by the way, there are no offers at all."

It is thought that Real Madrid are currently leading the race for Bellingham's signature ahead of the summer window, although Carlo Ancelotti recently played down suggestions that they would move for the youngster.

During his two-and-a-half-year spell in Germany, Bellingham has made 112 appearances for Dortmund across all competitions, scoring 19 goals and registering 12 assists, and won the DFB-Pokal in 2020-21.