Jude Bellingham to Birmingham City? Tom Brady backed plan with return date teased by Peaky Blinders mastermind

A possible timeline for Jude Bellingham to make a sensational return to Birmingham City has been suggested by Steven Knight, a lifelong supporter of the club.

The midfielder left the West Midlands in 2020 to pursue his career abroad and is now starring for Real Madrid, but a reunion within the next five years has not been ruled out.

Bellingham’s rise began at St Andrew’s, where he broke through into the first team at just 16, surpassing a long-standing record previously held by Trevor Francis as the club’s youngest debutant.

His No.22 shirt was retired following his departure to Borussia Dortmund, having made only 44 senior appearances before moving on to bigger stages. Interest from top English sides was strong, but he opted for development in Germany before completing a high-profile switch to Madrid in 2023.

Now under contract in Spain until 2029, Bellingham could coincide a potential return with Birmingham’s ambitious stadium project. Plans are in place for a 62,000-capacity ground, and Knight has expressed a vision of the midfielder one day marking its افتتاح in memorable fashion, even imagining him scoring a hat-trick on opening day.

The England international has already played a role in promoting the development, featuring in campaign material for the proposed £1.2 billion venue, which includes a distinctive design with multiple towering chimneys. Knight has made it clear he would welcome Bellingham back to the club when the time is right.

As for when that might be, Knight suggested the player—who turns 23 this year—could return before reaching 30, with 28 floated as a realistic target.

However, he acknowledged that such a move would depend heavily on Birmingham’s progress on the pitch and their ability to establish themselves competitively, potentially as a stable Premier League side.

Since leaving his boyhood club, Bellingham has developed into one of football’s leading figures, also becoming a central presence for England national team as they prepare for another major international campaign.

Knight admitted he did not immediately recognise the midfielder’s exceptional talent early on, but came to appreciate just how special he was as his rapid rise became impossible to ignore.