Borussia Dortmund agree deal to sign Birmingham's Jude Bellingham in blow for Manchester United

Borussia Dortmund have agreed a deal in principle to sign the highly rated England Under-17 midfielder, Jude Bellingham, from Birmingham City.

Manchester United had been eager to sign Bellingham and gave the 17-year-old a tour of the club’s training complex in March but the player and his father, Mark, believe his development will be best served by a move to Germany.

Bellingham becomes the second player in seven months to pick Dortmund over United after Erling Haaland snubbed a move to Old Trafford in January in order to join the German giants for £20 million.

Bellingham has watched the development of Jadon Sancho following the winger’s transfer to Dortmund from Manchester City in 2017 and hopes he can benefit in a similar way. Sancho has been heavily linked with a move to United but, while the Manchester club want him, they have no intention of meeting Dortmund's exorbitant £115m valuation.

Reports in Germany claim Dortmund will pay Birmingham around £21 million for Bellingham and that the player will sign a five-year contract.