Jude Bellingham profile: latest news on his No 10 role and Real Madrid renewal
Jude Bellingham has started 2026-27 strongly as Mourinho's No 10 at Real Madrid after scoring seven World Cup goals for England, with reports of contract renewal talks and a Ballon d'Or nomination.
Jude Bellingham enters the second half of October 2026 with a new role, a new coach and renewed momentum. After a 2025-26 season disrupted by shoulder surgery and a World Cup in which he scored seven goals for England, the 23-year-old has made a productive start to life under José Mourinho at Real Madrid and is on the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or. This Jude Bellingham profile and latest news update covers his current form, his position in Mourinho's system, reports about a contract renewal and the path that took him from Birmingham to the Bernabéu.
Jude Bellingham latest news: a fresh start under Mourinho
Bellingham returned to Real Madrid training in August 2026 after a post-World Cup break and, according to beIN Sports, described the chance to work under new coach José Mourinho as a dream. The change in the dugout followed a turbulent 2025-26 campaign in which Xabi Alonso left the club in January 2026.
The early signs have been encouraging. FootballTransfers put his return in LaLiga at three goals and three assists in his first six appearances of 2026-27, an output that already compares well with the previous season, when beIN Sports counted eight goals and five assists in 40 Real Madrid games. In Europe, he played in Real Madrid's thrilling 4-3 Champions League win at Roma on 14 October, although he did not get on the scoresheet.
- LaLiga 2026-27 (per FootballTransfers): 3 goals, 3 assists in 6 appearances
- 2025-26 with Real Madrid (per beIN Sports): 8 goals, 5 assists in 40 appearances
- Latest: played in the 4-3 Champions League win at Roma
- Ballon d'Or 2026: on the 30-man shortlist
Contract renewal reports
Bellingham's current contract runs to 2029. According to journalist Matteo Moretto, cited by FootballTransfers, Real Madrid are working on a renewal, with talks centred on extending the deal to 2030 or 2031. No official announcement has been made, and the report should be treated as such until the club confirms an agreement.
Role and playing style: Mourinho's No 10
Spanish newspaper AS, as cited by Yahoo Sports, reported in August that Mourinho planned to use Bellingham as a No 10 in a 4-2-3-1, operating closer to the penalty area. That is the role in which he enjoyed his most prolific spell after joining Real Madrid, arriving late in the box to finish moves rather than dictating play from deep.
Bellingham is a complete midfielder: strong in duels, comfortable carrying the ball through pressure, and capable of linking play with short passes before breaking into the box. His timing of runs and composure in front of goal make him a genuine goal threat from midfield, while his competitive personality and work rate allow him to contribute without the ball. Mourinho's decision to push him forward is designed to maximise that attacking instinct.
Jude Bellingham career path: Birmingham, Dortmund and Real Madrid
Born on 29 June 2003 in Stourbridge, England, Bellingham came through Birmingham City's academy and became their youngest first-team player at 16 in 2019. When he left, the club retired his No 22 shirt. He moved to Borussia Dortmund in July 2020 and won the DFB-Pokal in 2021, before Real Madrid signed him in June 2023 for an initial fee of €103 million on a six-year contract. In the summer of 2025 he underwent surgery to fix a long-standing shoulder problem.
| Period | Club | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | Birmingham City | Youngest first-team player at 16; No 22 shirt retired |
| 2020-2023 | Borussia Dortmund | DFB-Pokal 2021 |
| 2023-present | Real Madrid | LaLiga and Champions League 2023-24; contract to 2029 |
Honours and individual awards
Bellingham's first season in Spain was one of the most impressive debut campaigns of recent years. He won LaLiga and the Champions League in 2023-24 and was named LaLiga Player of the Season.
- UEFA Champions League: 2023-24 (Real Madrid)
- LaLiga: 2023-24 (Real Madrid)
- DFB-Pokal: 2021 (Borussia Dortmund)
- LaLiga Player of the Season: 2023-24
- Golden Boy: 2023
- Kopa Trophy: 2023
International career: England's World Cup talisman
Bellingham made his senior England debut in November 2020 at the age of 17. He scored against Iran in England's opening game of the 2022 World Cup, and at Euro 2024 he produced one of the moments of the tournament with a stoppage-time overhead kick against Slovakia in the round of 16, as England went on to reach the final.
The 2026 World Cup was his most productive tournament yet. He scored both goals as England beat Norway 2-1 after extra time in the quarter-finals, although Thomas Tuchel's remark afterwards that England had been fortunate caused some public friction, according to beIN Sports. England then met Argentina in the semi-finals in Atlanta on 15 July 2026 and were knocked out. beIN Sports reported that Bellingham finished the tournament with seven goals.
What's next for Jude Bellingham
With Vinícius Júnior suspended for the next four LaLiga matches, including the Clásico against Barcelona at Camp Nou on 25 October, Real Madrid's attacking load will fall even more heavily on Bellingham in his new No 10 role. A day later, on 26 October, the Ballon d'Or is presented in London, where he is among the 30 nominees, as reported by Sky Sports. Beyond that, the key off-field story to watch is whether the reported contract talks lead to an official extension. Follow Real Madrid's fixtures and live scores on our live scores page.