Jude and Jobe Bellingham could become the first brothers to appear together for England in 19 years when the Three Lions face Croatia at Wembley on 12 November and Spain in Madrid three days later. Jobe’s recent call-up to the senior squad completes a rare sibling pairing not seen since Gary and Phil Neville last shared an England pitch in 2007.
Jobe Bellingham’s rise to the senior team has followed a path similar to Jude’s. Like his older brother, Jobe began his career at Birmingham City’s academy and made his senior debut for the Blues at 16 years and 107 days, just over two months older than Jude when he first played for the club. Jobe then moved to Sunderland, where he helped secure promotion to the Premier League, before joining Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga for a reported fee of up to £31 million at 19.
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Jobe Bellingham
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Jude moved to Dortmund a couple of years earlier, at 17, before establishing himself as one of the world’s leading midfielders and securing a high-profile transfer to Real Madrid. Despite constant comparisons to Jude, Jobe insists on forging his own identity, wearing 'Jobe' on the back of his shirt to signal his individual path in football.
England manager Thomas Tuchel said the younger Bellingham’s call-up was long overdue and credited Lee Carsley, the England U21 coach, with pushing for Jobe’s inclusion. “He’s the standout player. He’s the captain, so the door should always be open for the pathway,” Tuchel said. “He found his rhythm with Dortmund. He’s had an excellent start to his season, is a regular starter and influential.”
Jobe, who serves as captain of the England U21s, is seen as a more defensive midfielder than Jude, offering physicality and strong ball retention. Tuchel described him as “a very physical player” with a “big body” and praised his calm personality and eagerness to impress.
Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly will miss the match against Croatia through suspension, and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott remains sidelined due to injury. Tuchel said this opened a natural opportunity for Jobe to make an impression. “He deserves to make an impression for us,” Tuchel added. “It’s an incredible achievement for the family and for the brothers. I saw his excitement straight away and his smile.”
Jobe’s development at Dortmund has accelerated since last winter. Initially, he appeared cautious, avoiding risky decisions as he adapted to the Bundesliga’s demands. Dortmund manager Niko Kovac once remarked he was surprised by how long Jobe took to settle. However, dedicated gym work to build muscle mass and consistent playing time have helped him grow.
Kovac has recently deployed Jobe in a more attacking role, as one of two number 10s behind the striker. His performance in Dortmund’s 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich last weekend was widely seen as his best since joining the German club.
The Bellinghams are not the first brothers to play together for England. Gary and Phil Neville last did so 19 years ago. Their England partnership began in 1996, when they played together against China, becoming the first siblings to do so since Bobby and Jack Charlton 26 years earlier.
Bobby Charlton debuted before his older brother Jack, though both were part of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad. Bobby earned 106 caps, while Jack’s England career started close to his 30th birthday, eventually reaching 35 caps.
More recently, Nathaniel and Trevoh Chalobah have both appeared for England but never played together. Nathaniel made one appearance as a late substitute against Spain in 2018, while Trevoh featured in three matches, including the 2026 World Cup squad.
Tuchel also commented on another England midfielder, saying that Conor Palmer “misses too many opportunities to impress” and was not included in the current squad.
The Bellingham brothers’ joint appearance would end a near two-decade gap for siblings playing side by side in the England senior side. Their contrasting styles, Jude’s attacking flair and Jobe’s defensive solidity, could provide a fresh dynamic for the Three Lions in what promises to be challenging fixtures against Croatia and Spain.
According to Yahoo Sports.
