Jude Bellingham: Birmingham set to keep teenager despite interest from Europe's top clubs

Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund join Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal in watching 16-year-old

By Sky Sports News

Image: Jude Bellingham, 16, has scored three goals for Birmingham

Jude Bellingham, one of the most sought after young talents in English football, looks set to stay at Birmingham City despite interest from some of the top clubs in Europe.

Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Dortmund have joined Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal in watching the teenager, who has earned rave reviews after making 23 appearances for the Blues this season.

He became the club's youngest ever player at 16 years and 38 days when he started Birmingham's EFL Cup first-round match at Portsmouth last August, breaking the record set by club legend Trevor Francis in 1970.

Birmingham are under pressure to raise funds having been docked nine points last season for breaking profit and sustainability rules.

The Championship club were put under an imposed business plan by the EFL and told to sell players, but it is expected Bellingham will stay until the summer, when he can sign a professional contract after he turns 17 in June.

Advertisement
Highlights as Bellingham scored in Birmingham's 5-4 defeat against Leeds United on Boxing Day

Birmingham could face another points deduction after being charged with a breach of EFL regulations on Monday.

The club refused to sell Che Adams last January despite pressure from the EFL, eventually allowing him to join Southampton for £15m in July - almost double the offer they had received for him six months earlier.

Also See:

They also sold Jota to Aston Villa for £4m and Isaac Vassell to Cardiff for £2m, in an attempt to balance the books.

New Year, same Super 6!

FREE TO PLAY: Do not miss your chance to land the £250,000 jackpot for the sixth time this season.

Outbrain