UEFA Champions League: 5 best young players of Matchday 1
2. Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
Age: 18
Position: Central midfielder
Nationality: England
Individual achievements: EFL Young Player of the Year 2019/20, Championship Apprentice of the Year 2019/20, VDV Newcomer of the Season 2020/21
Did you know?
Jude Bellingham made his debut for Birmingham City aged just 16 years and 38 days. Following his breakthrough season in England, the teenager secured a move to German giants Borussia Dortmund, prompting Birmingham to retire his number ’22’ shirt despite him being a fixture in the senior team for only one season.
Watching Bellingham play, one often forgets that he is still a teenager. The 18-year-old looks like he has been around for ages, such is his maturity and composure on the pitch. The England international has begun to refine his end product as well, making him a prospect to keep a close eye on.
In Dortmund’s first Champions League match of the 2021/22 season, Bellingham broke records. The 18-year-old became the youngest player in the competition’s history to score in consecutive matches, breaking Kylian Mbappe’s record.
The midfielder took his goal well, too, running into space between the fullback and the center-back before volleying a cross into the net. Later on, he slalomed his way past the opposition numbers on the byline and set up Erling Haaland for his first goal of the campaign.
Bellingham was taken off just short of 70 minutes by his manager. He finished the game with one goal, one assist, an 85 percent pass accuracy, five successful dribbles out of six attempts, two tackles, and three clearances.
Why should Premier League clubs be interested?
Well, for starters, Premier League clubs have been interested in Bellingham ever since his Birmingham days. Manchester United and Arsenal attempted to sign him before, while Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City have all been linked to him in recent months.
He ticks all the boxes for the top-tier English sides: a home-grown, full England international with excellent technical skills and physical profile. And all that at just 18 years of age! It would be foolish for any top team not to be interested in him at this point.