Jobe Bellingham chose to stay at Sunderland despite having proposals on the table from Brentford and Crystal Palace.
Bellingham believes he has unfinished business at the Stadium of Light.
The 18-year-old has made the right decision to remain on Wearside for now.
Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham decided to stay with the Black Cats, even though he had earlier offers from Brentford and Crystal Palace.
Fabrizio Romano announced on X that Jobe Bellingham had signed a new deal to extend his stay at Sunderland, despite earlier speculation that the Black Cats would receive offers for him this summer. Bellingham impressed during his first season at the Stadium of Light, where he was given numerous starting opportunities in the 2023/24 campaign. The 18-year-old rewarded the club’s confidence by scoring several goals and becoming a key attacking threat for Sunderland.
| Jobe Bellingham’s 2023/24 campaign at Sunderland | |
|---|---|
| (All competitions) | |
| Appearances | 48 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 1 |
He also provided an assist on the opening day of the season against Cardiff City, setting up Jack Clarke, who skillfully navigated through the Bluebirds’ defense before finding the back of the net.
If Bellingham continues to make an impact in the final third, it’s likely that more top-flight teams will show interest in him. However, Sunderland has bolstered their negotiating position with the teenager by securing his signature on a new contract in the past 24 hours.
Fabrizio Romano’s Brentford and Crystal Palace revelation on Jobe Bellingham
Bellingham drew interest over the summer, with transfer insider Fabrizio Romano revealing that both Brentford and Crystal Palace had made offers for the attacking midfielder.
Brentford, who have been in the Premier League under Thomas Frank for some time and retained Ivan Toney, could see their chances of success in the 2024/25 season improved. Bellingham might have been another valuable attacking option, but a move to London now seems unlikely for the 18-year-old.
Similarly, Palace has greatly benefited from signing players from the EFL, with Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton thriving after their transfers from QPR and Blackburn Rovers, respectively. Meanwhile, Michael Olise made a move to Bayern Munich earlier this summer.
Jobe Bellingham has expressed his commitment to Sunderland after signing a contract extension. The teenager, in his remarks to the Black Cats’ media team, made it clear that he believes his journey at the Stadium of Light is far from over.
He stated, “I’m buzzing to sign this contract and extend my stay at Sunderland. I feel like I have a lot of unfinished business, and I believe we can achieve some great things this season.”
“This is such an incredible city, and I’m really proud to represent the people here. Everyone has made me feel so welcome, and I can’t imagine playing for a club where it didn’t matter as much as it does to our fans.
“I love playing for Sunderland, and I’m excited to return to the Stadium of Light this weekend.”
Jobe Bellingham has made the right choice by committing his future to Sunderland. At this stage in his career, prioritizing regular game time is crucial.
While some might argue that, at just 18, he could afford to spend time on the sidelines, a player with his potential will want to be on the pitch as much as possible. A move to the top flight wouldn’t guarantee him the minutes he needs, so staying with the Wearside club is the best decision for now. He’s likely to continue being a regular starter at the Stadium of Light for the foreseeable future.
The new contract, which runs until 2028, should also help him focus on his performance on the pitch, which will be vital for his development.