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Why Jobe Bellingham Doesn’t Have Surname on Back of His Shirt

The Borussia Dortmund man made the bold decision to remove the famous Bellingham name from his shirt.

Published: Friday, 6 November 2026 at 10:26 AM
Why Jobe Bellingham Doesn’t Have Surname on Back of His Shirt
Key Things to Know
  • Jobe Bellingham chose to wear 'Jobe' on his shirt to build his own identity separate from his brother Jude.
  • Sunderland had to obtain official permission from the English Football League to make the shirt name change.
  • Former Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray stated Jobe wanted to prove himself without relying on his brother's famous surname.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Jobe Bellingham chose to display his first name rather than his surname on his shirt to forge his own identity apart from his brother, Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham. After completing a move from Birmingham City to Sunderland, the young midfielder requested permission from the English Football League to drop "Bellingham" from the back of his jersey.

Former Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray confirmed the decision, explaining that Jobe wanted to showcase his individual abilities rather than rely on his brother's reputation. After emerging at Birmingham, Jobe established himself at Sunderland before later earning a high-profile move to Borussia Dortmund.

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