Wembley shine for Bellingham brothers, Kane on brink of a milestone

In the floodlights of Wembley Stadium, shortly before kickoff, the English fans gather, while the media report on Harry Kane, who is on the verge of a personal milestone. At the same time, Jude Bellingham could line up for the Three Lions for the first time together with his younger brother Jobe.

Jude Bellingham said that playing alongside his brother is his biggest life dream. The 23‑year‑old attacking midfielder is valued at €160 million. Coach Thomas Tuchel must decide on Thursday evening whether Jobe Bellingham, who most recently played for Borussia Dortmund, will make his Bundesliga debut alongside Jude against Croatia.

Jobe, who previously played for Dortmund, emphasized that regular joint appearances would mean nothing comparable. The brothers' call‑up is already being hailed in England as a feel‑good story that distracts from the national team’s recent problems.

England’s semi‑final loss to Argentina at the World Cup and the 2‑3 defeat to Spain in the Nations League have dampened the mood. The brothers would become the 22nd sibling pair to wear the Three Lions shirt, and the first since Gary and Phil Neville to play together.

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Family background and support

Jude and Jobe joined Birmingham City’s academy at a young age after their father Mark co‑founded FC Stourbridge in western Birmingham. Their mother Denise, formerly in HR, now manages the family finances and still accompanies Jude to Madrid. Jude said that without his mother he would fly too low in the lows and too high in the highs. Mark, a former amateur striker with over 700 goals, follows Jobe to Dortmund and criticised the substitution of his son after a 3‑3 result against FC St. Pauli. Despite this incident, the parents are mainly praised for their cautious planning and the polite, modest and open nature of their sons.

The story began at FC Stourbridge, a quiet club in the green hills of Worcestershire, near the industrial Black Country. Jude discovered his love for football at about six years old and moved a year later to Birmingham City. In a player comparison, Jude is listed with a market value of €160 million, Jobe with €40 million; the two are 23 and 21 years old, play in attacking and central midfield respectively, and their contracts run until 30 June 2030.

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The piece was published as part of the club forum’s premium service and support programme. The power of family thus shapes a new story for England’s national team.