Jobe Bellingham transfer fee in Borussia Dortmund move could break Sunderland’s most expensive sales record

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Sunderland ace Jobe Bellingham is poised for a big-money move to the Bundesliga giants after helping his side secure promotion to the Premier League.

Sunderland are set to lose Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund after securing promotion to the Premier League through the play-off final.

The combative midfielder has been the subject of Premier League and Bundesliga interest throughout the campaign, in which Bellingham has been a mainstay in Regis Le Bris’ promotion-winning team.

EFL Analysis exclusively revealed in May how Dortmund were always confident of signing Bellingham this summer, regardless of how the Black Cats’ season ended.

Despite Sunderland’s season ending on a high note at Wembley, the imminent departure of the 19-year-old has brought some division among the Black Cats fanbase.

However, the sizeable fee Dortmund are shelling out will soften the blow for Sunderland supporters.

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Jobe Bellingham transfer fee could break Sunderland’s sales record

Various reports have touted differing fees that Dortmund are willing to shell out for Bellingham’s services this summer.

However, EFL Analysis understands that Sunderland are set to accept a deal worth around £25 million, which, with add-ons, could take the deal over the £30 million mark.

Via information from our Chief Football correspondent, Graeme Bailey, we know Dortmund beat Premier League rivals to Bellingham as his camp have no issues in him following in the footsteps of elder brother Jude to focus on his footballing development.

Bellingham’s current deal at Sunderland includes a release clause worth around £33.7 million. However, it appears the German giants are intent on low-balling the Black Cats in terms of the transfer fee.

If Bellingham’s transfer fee rises above the £30 million mark, it could break Sunderland’s current most expensive sales record.

Academy of Light graduate Jordan Pickford was snatched up by Everton in 2017 after his breakout season between the Sunderland sticks, for a fee totaling £30 million.

Pickford’s deal saw the Black Cats guaranteed the initial £25 million total, before gaining a further £5 million in appearance-related add-ons that the England international goalkeeper has since completed.

Bellingham could now knock Pickford off his Sunderland sales perch and shift the top five most expensive Sunderland departures of all time around, following his imminent switch to Dortmund.

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Sunderland’s top five most expensive sales after Jobe Bellingham’s transfer

The financials are still yet to be decided between Dortmund and Sunderland for Bellingham.

Yet, considering he was the Championship’s Young Player of the Season this term, and with his potential to become one of Europe’s best box-to-box midfielders, the Black Cats will be well compensated for his departure after 90 games in red-and-white.

Sunderland’s top five most expensive sales amid Jobe Bellingham move

Bellingham will join an elite array of talent in Sunderland’s top five most expensive sales, alongside academy graduates Jordan Henderson and Pickford, as well as Jack Clarke, who has the chance to redeem himself at Ipswich this season.

If add-ons are met, Bellingham could become Sunderland’s record sale, which would deprive the Black Cats faithful of the chance to see him play in the top flight, in red and white.

The tinge of disappointment over his decision lingers, but it constitutes stellar business from the Sunderland hierarchy, when considering Bellingham came to Wearside in 2023 from his boyhood club Birmingham City, who are due a 15% windfall of his sale, for an initial £1.5m fee.