Jobe Bellingham has issued an honest response to critics of his move to Borussia Dortmund, just days after he joined the Bundesliga club from Sunderland.

The 19-year-old midfielder is following in the footsteps of his brother, Jude, after he penned a long-term contract with Dortmund following a productive spell in the Championship.

After playing a pivotal role for Sunderland in their promotion-winning campaign, Bellingham is said to have brought a club record fee worth £26.9 million plus £4.2 million in add-ons.

The teenager made his much-anticipated debut in Dortmund's goalless draw with Fluminense in the Club World Cup; an appearance that sparked plenty of conversation around his move to Germany.

And in a recent interview with DAZN, Bellingham explained why he had reservations about joining Dortmund in the past as he was aware of how it looked given the family connection.

In short, he wanted to be his "own man" rather than be in the shadow of his brother, who joined Real Madrid from the German club in the summer of 2023 for an initial £88.5 million.

"I don't really care how it looks, but it might look a bit contradictory to some people," he began.

"I was perhaps being biased against Dortmund for a very long time, because I have anxieties and fears and you want to be your own man, but I don't think I should let those stop me from making the right decision.

"So for me, it was about choosing the right path, not necessarily a different one. I don't think my path has been the same as Jude's at all. But, it meant if the right path meant signing for Borussia Dortmund, as so many top young players, not just me and my brother, then why would I not do it?

"It would be a big mistake to sign for another club just because Jude's played here and it didn't go well."

Bellingham played alongside Marcel Sabitzer on his Dortmund debut. Image credit: Getty

Given his brother's impact in Dortmund, Bellingham knows it was a risky move to join Niko Kovac's side ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

"Either way, there are risks on both sides," he added. "There are pros and cons to every club. I did have a lot of time to think about it. And I know the fans and I as well were impatient. But my head and my heart and that's all that matters.

"My perception is the only one that matters at the end of the day. So that's what I chose."

Borussia Dortmund dressing room have revealed what they think of Jobe Bellingham after Club World Cup debut

The 19-year-old has already made a big impression on the Borussia Dortmund dressing room, according to teammate Julian Brandt, who revealed Bellingham has an ‘obsession’ with improving.

He's also noticed how physical the midfielder is.

“He has this obsession to become good," Brandt said, as per German outlet BILD. “In terms of talent, he is a sensational boy. With a mentality that you know from your family. Physically, he's already very robust because he's already played in the second division in England.”

Bellingham's teammate Waldemar Anton added: “[He is] an outstanding footballer, he will help us in the coming weeks," while Niko Kovac praised his physicality.

“He's in very, very, very, really good physical condition," Kovac said. "That surprised me a little, but I was already pleased.”