Jobe Bellingham’s first months at Borussia Dortmund haven’t gone quite as smoothly as he or the club might have hoped.

After an encouraging summer—highlighted by a goal and an assist at the Club World Cup and strong pre-season performances—the 20-year-old was rewarded with a starting spot for Dortmund’s Bundesliga opener against St Pauli in August. But his debut ended in frustration as he was substituted at half-time, and the game spiralled from there when Dortmund squandered a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 after a late red card for defender Filippo Mane.

Tensions reportedly spilled over after the match when Bellingham’s father, Mark, confronted sporting director Sebastian Kehl in the players’ tunnel, upset about his son’s early substitution and the team’s performance. Dortmund officials later played down the incident, emphasizing their “trusting relationship” with the Bellingham family. Managing director Lars Ricken insisted the matter was “cleared up” and that emotions were understandable after Jobe’s first Bundesliga outing.

Searching for the Right Role

Since that chaotic start, Bellingham’s minutes have been limited, with seven of his nine Bundesliga appearances coming from the bench. His only other start came against Union Berlin, where he was withdrawn after 71 minutes.

One of the main challenges has been finding his ideal position in Niko Kovac’s system. In his debut, he played as a number 10 behind two strikers, but Dortmund have since switched to a 3-4-3 formation that relies on two central midfielders. With Felix Nmecha often used as the physical anchor and experienced players like Pascal Gross and Marcel Sabitzer providing stability, Bellingham’s role remains undefined.

Despite limited league action, he’s made an impact in Europe—registering two assists in three Champions League games, including key contributions in wins over Athletic Club and FC Copenhagen. His development remains a long-term project, but making an impression with late substitute appearances has proved difficult.

A Learning Curve and a Low Point

Perhaps the most difficult moment of his season so far came in the Bundesliga ‘Klassiker’ against Bayern Munich. Coming on with Dortmund trailing 1-0, Bellingham was caught in a cruel bit of misfortune—accidentally stepping on the ball while trying to clear a Luis Díaz effort off the line, allowing Michael Olise to score Bayern’s second.

It wasn’t his fault Dortmund lost, but the moment symbolized his early struggles: eager, involved, but not quite finding his footing.

The Weight of Expectation

Comparisons with his older brother Jude were inevitable. Dortmund paid a similar fee for Jobe as they did for Jude in 2020, and both arrived from English clubs at a young age. But while Jude was immediately hailed as a generational talent, Jobe’s development has been more gradual—first maturing at Birmingham City, then gaining experience at Sunderland before moving to Germany.

Still, Dortmund made no secret of their hope that lightning might strike twice. Jude’s rise was extraordinary: from teenage sensation to midfield leader and, eventually, a record transfer to Real Madrid. For Jobe, expectations may have been set too high too soon, especially after his impressive summer form.

Signs of Progress

The tide, however, may be turning. After a tough spell following the Bayern defeat, Bellingham impressed in the German Cup against Eintracht Frankfurt, playing all 120 minutes as Dortmund advanced via penalties. He also showed composure in a recent Bundesliga win over Augsburg, working hard to protect a narrow lead.

“He’s progressing faster than I expected,” said manager Niko Kovac. “He’s got a lot of quality.”

With Marcel Sabitzer yet to shine and Pascal Gross unable to play every game at 34, there’s a real chance Bellingham could soon claim a regular midfield role.

It may not be a repeat of Jude’s fairytale, but Jobe Bellingham’s story at Dortmund is still being written—and with patience, it could become another success born in the yellow and black.