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Published 10 November 2026 4 min read
Men's Senior

Jobe Bellingham: 'I feel really, really proud'

Written by:

Nicholas Veevers

Midfielder speaks about his pride and excitement following first senior call-up

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Having impressed at Borussia Dortmund in the early stages of this season, Jobe Bellingham has joined Thomas Tuchel's senior squad for the first time ahead of the November international window.

Prior to the Three Lions' fixtures against Croatia and Spain in the final UEFA Nations League matches of 2026, Bellingham speaks about finding out the news, wanting to make an impression, and the unique opportunity to represent England alongside his brother Jude.

Congratulations on the call-up. Did it come out of the blue? 

“Yeah, I'd been obviously hoping for it, as you would as a player. It's somewhere you aspire to be but I thought I'd probably be with the MU21s, which I'm proud about in itself. Then it was last Thursday when I was driving back from training, and I saw a message pop up in my car and it said: ‘Hi, Jobe, it's Thomas Tuchel.’ 

“I was, as you can imagine, ecstatic and so excited and then when I took the call later on, it was just quite surreal. You don't really know what to do with yourself in that moment, but you're just so pleased and I couldn't stop smiling. I feel really, really proud. It was something that I’d hoped for and I felt like I was making it a little bit more possible each week with each game so yeah, I'm really pleased.”

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The competition for places in your position in the England squad is really strong, but all you can do is keep doing what you're doing at club level and hoping that you can catch the eye which obviously has happened?

“Yeah, for sure. When you talk about the competition, I think it's a great thing, but then it also makes it a lot more difficult for you to stand out. But from the perspective of a player, when you do get in the environment you think you've got so many players you can learn from and train with and test yourself against. It's a really good thing for the country as a whole that we've got so many top players competing for, not just my position, but in almost every position really. There's such high a competition level of top players, who are playing for big clubs across Europe so it's a really blessed position for the country. For me, I'm just glad that I managed to catch the eye and it shows that the manager and the coaches are willing to give younger players in the MU21s and also playing abroad a chance to come in.”

What are you looking to take out of the week?

“I think the biggest thing, which the manager told me and other people have mentioned to me, is that you want to make an impression. In training, you've got to make an impression and because it's a short camp you want do that as fast as possible. You've not got long to impress or show your characteristics as a player and as a professional around the place. I look at every moment as an opportunity in my eyes, in the way that you recover, the way that you approach training. And then on the pitch, where it's really important, obviously you want to perform if you get the chance.”
"With Jude being here too, it’s a great, great feeling for the family"
"With Jude being here too, it’s a great, great feeling for the family"

You've come through the ranks with England playing for the development teams and Josh King is here with you this week, so that must help having the two of you come up from the MU21s together?

“Yeah, it does help. I think Josh is a top player and obviously I've played with him a few times now with the MU21s and he definitely deserves to be here as well. With us being here, it shows those lads in the MU21s who are gearing towards the EUROs next summer, which I hope to be competing in as well, that there's opportunity and a chance. For a player, it's so encouraging to see that young players can step into the environment and be given a chance to fight for a place. Everyone has been really welcoming and you feel like you'd be really nervous to come in but then when you actually get here and you meet people, they calm you right down. It's a really, really good environment. 

“And I can't ignore it, but obviously with Jude being here too, it’s a great, great feeling for the family. It's quite special, to be honest. It's such a huge bonus on top of something that's already so special and so great. To be called up for England is a dream itself and I've been so proud to have the opportunity to represent England at every age group. I always enjoyed coming away with England, I love competing against top players at whichever age group. But to have that chance of an opportunity to represent England with my brother, it's really hard to put into words. I don't have the words, really. I think it's only emotion that could describe it, and hopefully if that time does come, you'll see a lot of emotion from people, and definitely from my family.”

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