Thomas Tuchel reveals Premier League star was overtaken by Jobe Bellingham

Jobe Bellingham earned his first England call-up after impressing for Dortmund, overtaking Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo in Tuchel's midfield pecking order.

Jobe Bellingham has been included in Thomas Tuchel's 25-man England squad for upcoming Nations League matches against Spain and Croatia, marking his senior debut call-up. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder impressed Tuchel with a standout performance in Dortmund's 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich, which proved decisive in securing his selection.

Tuchel explained that Bellingham's form has seen him leapfrog Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo in the midfield hierarchy. "Kobbie had a difficult spell with his club and in the meantime it was Jobe who impressed in the same time," Tuchel said. "That is what we want. The door is always open for younger players to overtake and make their mark."

The 19-year-old joined Dortmund from Sunderland in 2025 for £31m after helping the Black Cats secure promotion back to the Premier League. Operating as a No.6 this season, Bellingham has shown the versatility that caught Tuchel's attention. Under-21s manager Lee Carsley had been advocating for his inclusion for weeks, and injuries to Alex Scott and suspension for Myles Lewis-Skelly left Tuchel short in central midfield.