Niko Kovač: Jobe Bellingham has “truly deserved” first England call-up
| Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images |
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham has received his first call-up to the England senior squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, BVB head coach Niko Kovač reflected on the 21-year-old's selection, which will give him the opportunity to represent England alongside his older brother, Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham.
“He has truly deserved it. The progress he has made has been tremendous. He has invested a lot of effort and works extremely hard. And the way he has gone about things this year has been excellent. You have to acknowledge that he needed a bit of time. Many people don't have the patience, but that's what he's shown," Kovač said.
"You can see that he is truly fantastic. I'm happy for him and delighted that he can now pull on the national team shirt alongside his brother. That's something special – not just representing your country, but doing so alongside your own brother as well. It's fantastic.
“He should keep going, and I'm convinced he will, because he has a tremendous attitude, loves what he does, and has everything it takes to become a truly great player.”
Jobe Bellingham joined Borussia Dortmund from Sunderland in the summer of 2025. He has made 14 appearances for BVB this season, including 10 starts.
