Jude Bellingham is an English professional footballer known for his midfield role at Real Madrid and the England national team. Despite his fame, Bellingham has never publicly declared any religious faith. Sports media note that he has not commented on religion, and given his upbringing in England he is assumed to be Christian.
Quick Profile: Jude Bellingham
| Full Name | Jude Victor William Bellingham |
| Date of Birth | 29 June 2003 |
| Place of Birth | Stourbridge, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.86 m) |
| Position | Midfielder |
| Current Team | Real Madrid |
| Club Number | 5 |
| Religion | Christianity (not publicly confirmed) |
What religion is Jude Bellingham?
Bellingham has never officially stated his religion. Journalistic accounts emphasize that he has “not publicly commented about following any specific religion”. In Britain (a majority-Christian country) it is often assumed he is Christian, but in absence of a public statement this remains speculative. Sports media warn that his religious beliefs are unknown: “Beyond that, the lack of direct statements from Bellingham makes his religious views purely speculative”.
Social media rumors that Bellingham is Muslim have circulated, but these are unverified and unsupported by evidence. In fact, a sports outlet noted “the internet is rife with rumours” about his faith, yet available reporting concludes he is not known to follow Islam. Neither Bellingham nor his family have ever publicized any faith, and he keeps his personal beliefs out of the spotlight. In summary, Jude Bellingham’s faith is undocumented – most sources simply assume Christianity based on his background, while respecting that he has chosen to keep this private.
Early Life
Jude Victor William Bellingham was born on 29 June 2003 in Stourbridge (West Midlands) to Denise and Mark Bellingham. He is the eldest child in the family, with a younger brother, Jobe, who is also a professional footballer. His ancestry is diverse: he has Irish heritage on his father’s side and Kenyan heritage through his mother. (In fact, his Irish grandmother’s heritage allowed him to secure an Irish passport for football transfers.)
Bellingham grew up in a football-loving household. His father Mark was a successful non-league striker and a West Midlands police sergeant, and Jude often accompanied him to matches. Bellingham later said watching his dad play every week was how he “fell in love with football” – Mark “was probably my first hero,” Jude recalled in an interview. He was raised in Birmingham and educated at private Priory School, where he played football for the school team. In 2021, Bellingham earned a BTEC Level-3 diploma in sports studies from Loughborough College. As a child he admired players like Zinedine Zidane, whom he cited as an early idol.
Football Career Highlights
Bellingham’s football career took off remarkably early. He joined Birmingham City’s academy at age seven and rose rapidly through the ranks. In August 2019, aged 16 years and 38 days, he became the youngest first-team player in Birmingham City’s history. He scored on his first full-season appearance and finished the 2019–20 season as a regular starter. In July 2020 Bellingham transferred to German side Borussia Dortmund. In his very first Bundesliga match he became Dortmund’s youngest ever goalscorer.
Over three seasons at Dortmund, Bellingham continued to impress. He played 132 games, helping Dortmund win the 2020–21 DFB-Pokal (German Cup). In the 2022–23 season, Dortmund finished as Bundesliga runners-up and Bellingham won the Bundesliga Player of the Season award. That year (2023) he also won Europe’s top youth player awards – the Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy – for his performances.
In mid-2023, Bellingham signed with Real Madrid for a reported €103 million, becoming one of the club’s marquee players. In his first season with Real (2023–24), he was the team’s top scorer in La Liga and helped lead Madrid to the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League trophy. Those successes also earned him La Liga Player of the Season honors for 2023–24. He was named to the FIFPRO World XI in both 2023 and 2024, and finished third in both the 2024 Ballon d’Or and 2024 The Best FIFA Men’s Player votes.
At the international level, Bellingham has represented England since his youth. He made his senior England debut in November 2020 and was part of England’s squads for major tournaments: UEFA Euro 2020 (in 2021), the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and Euro 2024. Notably, he scored a last-minute bicycle-kick equaliser for England in the Euro 2024 semi-final, helping send them to the final (a feat widely celebrated by fans). His rapid rise and high-profile achievements have made him one of football’s brightest young stars.
Personal Life
Off the pitch, Bellingham is known to be close to his family. He is the son of Denise and Mark Bellingham; Mark, now retired, was a prolific non-league striker and is listed as his agent. His younger brother, Jobe Bellingham, is also a professional player (currently in Borussia Dortmund, following Jude’s path). Bellingham has credited his family with supporting his career: for example, he once said his mother’s encouragement was “probably the biggest” influence on him.
Bellingham’s romantic life is kept very private. Tabloid reports in 2024 linked him to Dutch model Laura Celia Valk, suggesting the two were dating, but this has never been confirmed by either party. Earlier, he was reportedly involved with Ghanaian model Asantewa Chitty, though those reports likewise went unverified.
Beyond football and relationships, Bellingham is also notable for his business ventures. He co-owns a company called Bello&Bello Ltd that manages his image rights. Interestingly, his parents are listed as the director and company secretary of this firm. This arrangement means that the family jointly oversees his commercial interests. Jude also enjoys studying the sport—during his early career he completed a college qualification in sport—and speaks multiple languages, including English and Spanish, due to his time in Germany and Spain (though he is most comfortable in English).
Awards and Honors
- UEFA Champions League Champion (2024) – won with Real Madrid
- La Liga Champion (2024) – won with Real Madrid
- Spanish Super Cup Winner (2024) – with Real Madrid (part of same season’s honors)
- DFB-Pokal (German Cup) Winner (2021) – with Borussia Dortmund
- Bundesliga Player of the Season (2022–23) – awarded in Germany
- La Liga Player of the Season (2023–24) – awarded in Spain
- Golden Boy Award (2023) – Europe’s best U-21 player for 2023
- Kopa Trophy (2023) – IFFHS award for best U-21 player in 2023
- FIFPRO World XI (2023, 2024) – selected in world’s team of the year
- Ballon d’Or (2024) – finished third in voting for world’s best player
- The Best FIFA Men’s Player (2024) – finished third in voting
These honors (titles and individual awards) underscore Bellingham’s rapid impact at the highest level, both in club and international play.
Endorsements and Earnings
Bellingham’s commercial profile is enormous. Multiple reports indicate he is now one of the richest young players in football. In 2025 his net worth was estimated around $50 million. His Real Madrid contract pays very handsomely – estimates range about £220,000 per week in salary(roughly $11–12 million per year), and total annual wages likely exceed $20–25 million.
On top of his salary, Bellingham earns from lucrative sponsorships and endorsements. He has a multi-year deal with Adidas (including a personal “JB” apparel line and signature boots). In fact, analysts note he has “a fantastic deal with Adidas” and “a very big Lucozade deal”. He is also a brand ambassador for Skims (Kim Kardashian’s clothing brand) and was reported to sign with Louis Vuitton for luxury branding. Other major partners include Lucozade (energy drink), McDonald’s, and the EA SPORTS FC (FIFA video game) franchise. For example, Sports Illustrated lists his sponsors as Adidas, Lucozade, Louis Vuitton, Skims and McDonald’s. In short, Bellingham’s off-field earnings match his on-field success: one sports business expert described him as “arguably the most marketable young sportsperson on the planet”, with global brand deals multiplying after he signed with Real Madrid.
The combination of his club salary and endorsements means Bellingham’s total income is extraordinarily high for his age. In 2024–2025 he likely earned well over $30 million across all sources.
Trivia
- Dual Heritage: Aside from English nationality, Bellingham has Irish and Kenyan roots. His paternal grandmother is Irish(which gave him EU citizenship), and his mother is of Kenyan descent. As a child he even sported an Ireland jersey in photos. He used his Irish passport to navigate EU rules when transferring to Real Madrid.
- Early Idol: Bellingham idolized French star Zinedine Zidane growing up, and he admired former England midfielder Frank Lampard as well. He took inspiration from many midfield greats, but always credits watching his father’s non-league games as the spark that made him “fall in love with football”. In other words, Mark Bellingham’s career was Jude’s first footballing inspiration.
- Young Achievements: As a teenager, he broke numerous records. He was not only Birmingham City’s youngest debutant (16y 38d), but he also became Borussia Dortmund’s youngest-ever goalscorer in 2020. In 2023 he became the most expensive 17-year-old ever when Dortmund paid €25M. By 21 he had won domestic league titles and a Champions League – feats usually reserved for much older players.
- Recognition: For his impact, he earned the nickname “The Special One” on social media, and many compare his early career trajectory to legends like Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo. Time magazine included him in a list of rising young athletes to watch (an honorary mention rather than a formal award).
