Jude Bellingham rose through the ranks of Birmingham City’s academy system before becoming one of football’s biggest players at Real Madrid.

The midfielder made his Blues debut at the age of 16, becoming him the club’s youngest-ever senior début.

After just one season at St. Andrew’s, Bellingham joined Borussia Dortmund for an estimated £22.75 million.

The 22-year-old’s star grew throughout his time in Germany, when he helped the team reach the Champions League final in 2023 and finish second in the Bundesliga three times in a row.

As a result, he joined Real Madrid in a £115 million transfer deal.

In three seasons at the Bernabeu, Bellingham has won La Liga, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and Supercopa de España.

Jude Bellingham talks up on the Birmingham return decision.

Bellingham has returned to Birmingham, confirming his purchase of a share in the Birmingham Phoenix cricket team.

The Real Madrid star will now own 1.2 percent of the club, with the acquisition expected to cost around £1 million.

The 22-year-old has said that his love of cricket was a major motivator for the choice, as well as an opportunity to express his gratitude to the community.

He emphasized his affection for Birmingham, or at least half of it, in a jab at rivals Aston Villa, while also discussing the importance of cricket in his life.

“Pretty simple, I love Birmingham,” Bellingham told Sky Sports on X.

“I think I’m really thankful for what they’ve done for me, and for the entire city of Birmingham, or at least half of it, and I also enjoy cricket.

“I used to play when I was younger, but now that I’m older and have a better understanding of the game, I watch it on TV.

“It’s what I watch when football isn’t on.”

“I enjoy Test games the most when I can watch them all day; after training is over and I can return to watching them in the afternoon, I believe I really adore it.

“So it’s a perfect blend, and when I got the opportunity to get involved I didn’t really think twice about it, and I’m so happy to be on board.”

Bellingham will be looking for a great finish to the season at Real Madrid as he prepares to play a key part for England at the World Cup this summer.

Meanwhile, Birmingham has little to play for in their final two Championship games.

The Blues hoped to be in contention for promotion to the Premier League in their first year back in the Second Division.

However, Chris Davies’ side is now 14th in the rankings, 13 points behind the top six, with only three games remaining.

Birmingham will return to action this evening with a home match against Preston North End at 7.45pm, with a win potentially moving the squad up to 10th place depending on other outcomes.

Jude Bellingham’s link to Birmingham increases.

Bellingham is highly remembered at Birmingham, even after only one season with the senior club, since he made such an impact at such a young age.

It comes as no surprise to the club that he has already accomplished so much in his career, despite the fact that he is only 22.

Perhaps a return to the Blues is in the cards in the distant future, if the squad can return to the Premier League and he achieves his goals at Real Madrid.

It’s apparent that he still feels a deep connection to the city, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he seeks a return to where his career began in the future.