As part of Youth Development Week, the EFL is looking back at some of the standout winners of the EFL Young Player of the Month award from years gone by.

The award was created to recognise young players who made significant contributions to their teams, with previous winners including Tammy Abraham, Harry Maguire and Victor Moses.

Many have gone on to enjoy success at the highest level with Clubs and on the international scene, with the EFL playing a role in their rise to the top.

For the fourth instalment of the series, we take a look at the incredible career that Jude Bellingham has enjoyed so far, with the youngster still only 20 years of age and the most recent in our series to have won the award.

Bellingham came through Birmingham City’s academy, making his debut for their under-23 side at just 15 before signing a two-year scholarship at the club in July 2019. Ahead of the 2019/20 season, Bellingham was handed squad number 22 and started his first professional match when Birmingham visited Portsmouth in the first round of the EFL Cup on 6 August.

He became the youngest ever player for the club at the age of 16 years and 38 days and was a regular starter for the Championship side throughout the season. It was November when he really stood out starting all five matches and shining, despite Birmingham enduring a difficult month, picking up just three points.

His breakout season didn’t go unnoticed as speculation intensified as to whether he would stay at the Blues, after winning both the Championship Apprentice of the Year and EFL Young Player of the Season. It was Borussia Dortmund who tempted Bellingham away from his boyhood club, with Birmingham retiring Bellingham’s shirt number such had been his impact.

Bellingham made an instant impression in black and yellow, scoring on his debut after coming off the bench during Dortmund’s 5-0 win over MSV Duisburg in the DFB-Pokal.

Over the course of the season, Bellingham would become a mainstay in the side, claiming the first major trophy of his senior career, after Dortmund overcame RB Leipzig in the final with doubles from Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland.

He spent another two seasons with the German club, and would play 132 games, scoring 24 goals and adding 25 assists. Although he would miss out on winning the Bundesliga in agonising fashion, in his final season at the club his performances were recognised by winning Bundesliga Player of the Season.

This form inevitably attracted the attention of the world’s biggest Clubs and it was Real Madrid who won the battle for his signature. Since his move to Spain, Bellingham has become a key part of the side, filling the gap left by the departure of Karim Benzema, scoring 20 goals in 31 appearances and adding nine assists, winning the Spanish Super Cup and being a key part of the side challenging for La Liga and UEFA Champions League glory. He was also awarded the prestigious Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy which recognises the best young player in European and World football.

As well as playing for one of the best sides in Europe, the 20-year-old has also become a starter for Gareth Southgate and England. He made his debut for the national side in November 2020 when he came on as a substitute against Republic of Ireland, becoming England’s third youngest player behind Theo Walcott and Wayne Rooney, and has since gone on to represent his country at UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.

Bellingham has since gone on to play for England in the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament and at the 2022 World Cup, with him already having 27 caps to his name and two goals.