We all know Jobe Bellingham is pretty special, but his latest achievement just goes to show what an incredible career he’s already had, and how much further he can still go.
Ever since joining Sunderland from Birmingham City in a £1.5m deal, Jobe Bellingham has proven what a talent he is, and made that measly price tag look like an absolute steal.
He’s without doubt one of the best players in Regis Le Bris’ squad, and is a genuine superstar in the making. He’s also one of the Championship’s most valuable players and one of the most high-profile names in the second tier.
Now, Bellingham has reached a new milestone in his career, and it makes him a unique part of Championship history.
Jobe Bellingham wasn’t even alive when the Championship started
As per Opta, Bellingham has now reached 100 appearances in the Championship. A decent milestone, for sure, but what makes this extra special is the fact that the Sunderland man is the first player to reach that total who was actually born after the inception of the league in its current format.
The Championship, formerly known as the old Division One, was officially renamed with the first game of the 2004/05 season, with the first game being played on August 7, 2004.
Bellingham was actually born on September 23, 2005, so he’s more than a year behind that launch date for the Championship.
Of course, that name change for the league and the achievement Bellingham has secured is fairly arbitrary in many ways. But, it’s still remarkable that the young star has managed to be so consistent over the last three years and reach this level at just 19-years-old.
Jobe Bellingham has immense potential, but he’s got a long way to go still
Bellingham is so important to Sunderland, and the amazing thing is, he could and should still get a lot better as time goes on and he matures.
The only issue now is, Sunderland are at risk of losing Bellingham in the summer. The Black Cats were never letting him go in January, but if they fail to get promoted this season, Premier League clubs will certainly come sniffing.
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Sunderland | 76 | 11 | 4 |
| Birmingham | 24 | 0 | 0 |
In truth, Bellingham needs to be playing at the top level, especially if he wants to step out of his brother’s shadow and prove himself to be a genuine star in his own right.
Big teams have been scouting Bellingham already, and at the current rate, he is destined to go all the way to the top, represent England, and excel either in the Premier League or abroad. One thing is already clear, though, this young man has outgrown the Championship.