“Job finished.”
This was the caption on the social media post uploaded by Jobe Bellingham hours after Sunderland secured a dramatic last-minute promotion to the Premier League by beating Sheffield United in the final of the EFL Championship Play-offs.
There are two ways to look at the caption and the meaning it entails. The first is a rather simple, matter-of-fact assessment of a season brilliantly ended, which saw the younger Bellingham brother play a crucial role in the Black Cats’ return to the top flight after eight long years. The second is the one that could potentially derail their journey in the big time even before it begins: it could be a cryptic way of the teenager drawing the curtain on his time at Wearside.
It has been two years since Jobe joined Sunderland from Birmingham City. There has been an underlying sense of foreboding that this could be a summer of huge decisions that could pretty much shape his playing career in the long term.
Jobe stands at the crossroads of two very tantalising and fascinating career choices. The first one is pretty self-explanatory: stay with Sunderland and make his Premier League debut, something his older brother has not had the opportunity to do. The second is a longer path, but a potentially fruitful one if he chooses to walk it: go abroad and carve a name for himself, something Jude has already done.
For now, it seems that the second option is being explored. Jobe and his parents were spotted going on a tour to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt just two days after Sunderland sealed promotion. Eintracht believe they can leverage their next season’s Champions League spot to convince the Bellinghams that this is the right move for them.
If that weren’t enough, even Borussia Dortmund are admirers of his. Given their already cordial relationship with the family, they will also fancy their chances of adding another Bellingham into the fold.
However, nothing is certain. Jobe has always wanted to do things his way and carve his own footballing path. He has “Jobe” on his shirt because he wants to stand out and not remain in the spotlight of his brother. And that is where staying in the Premier League could be something that appeals to him.
With a contract that runs until 2028, Sunderland have some leverage in terms of convincing him to stay a while longer—something that would not be possible at all had they not been promoted.
Even if he does decide against staying at Wearside, there are plenty of well-established Premier League sides that could give him a much better chance of competing in the top flight for a sustained period. Brentford have long been admirers, while Crystal Palace will be looking to bolster their ranks for the upcoming Europa League adventure and would definitely welcome a player of Jobe’s calibre.
Jobe Bellingham is a precocious talent, and he has grown in stature with each and every game. When four different managers at a club consider you an integral part of their strongest playing XI despite the tender age and relative inexperience, you’re doing something right.
Moreover, Jobe is also this season’s Championship Young Player of the Season. Previous winners like Michael Olise and Jude Bellingham haven’t fared too shabbily since leaving the English second tier.
In the end, the next step will be a crucial one to make for Jobe and everyone involved with him. As he goes on a much-deserved vacation, it remains to be seen what he decides to do, assured in the knowledge that we are all watching with interest.
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