"Gutted" - Exclusive: Lee Hendrie makes Birmingham City claim after Jobe Bellingham's Sunderland AFC exploits | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie spoke exclusively to Football League World about Jobe Bellingham, who has flourished with Sunderland after leaving Birmingham City

Sky Sports pundit and former Aston Villa defender Lee Hendrie believes Birmingham City will be "gutted" about the success of Jobe Bellingham, who has morphed into one of the hottest properties in the Championship since leaving for Sunderland in 2023.

Akin to older brother Jude, the 19-year-old spent his formative years in Blues' academy set-up before being fast-tracked into the first-team frame at a young age. Indeed, Jobe became the second-youngest debutant in the club's history at the age of 16 years and 107 days - behind his brother - when he debuted in an FA Cup tie at home to Plymouth Argyle in January 2022.

A sustained breakthrough came during the 2022/23 campaign, which saw Jobe make 22 Championship appearances. It would have been hoped for Jobe to truly kick on and establish himself the following season, though he instead departed for Sunderland that summer.

As per reports, Birmingham collected an initial sum of just £1.5 million for Jobe. It's said that Blues were understandably reluctant to lose the talented midfielder, but will receive 15 per cent of any fee which Sunderland collect.

The Black Cats are poised to make a significant profit on Jobe, who has earned interest from a number of top-flight clubs both domestically and continentally after starring in the Championship over the last two seasons. Most recently, Jobe has been linked to the likes of Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace and is reportedly valued at £25.2 million.

The teenage prodigy has been a star performer in Sunderland's promotion push this season, leading Blues to wonder what could have been.

Lee Hendrie's Birmingham City, Jobe Bellingham transfer regret claim amid Sunderland exploits

Hendrie, who spent the bulk of his career on the other side of the Second City divide with fierce rivals Aston Villa, believes Bellingham's trajectory at the Stadium of Light will sting Blues.

While he does concede that Jobe himself was eager to leave for Wearside, the fee in which he was allowed to leave for and his subsequent success means Hendrie believes Birmingham ought to have real regret.

"Yeah, I'm sure they will be regretting that he's left the football club, particularly for the fee they sold him for," Hendrie explained when speaking exclusively with Football League World.

"It was next to nothing.

"But I think they were at a crucial stage where they probably had not much choice.

"Obviously Jobe wanted to get out and play football, he wanted to become more of a regular and I think he wanted to go his own way instead of trying to follow his brother's footsteps.

"He wants to be his own person and own player, he doesn't want to be labeled as 'his brother' and a kind of understudy if you like.

"I'm pretty sure Birmingham will be gutted because I think he would be a prized asset now, he's had a lot of game-time, has experience under his belt in the Championship.

"He's a massive threat and he's been a key player for Sunderland, so I do feel it will be the case for Birmingham that they'll be disappointed that they had to let him go."

Jobe Bellingham may not have had similar Sunderland AFC success with Birmingham City

Bellingham has blossomed into a superstar in the making at Sunderland, and we will never quite know if that would be the case had he decided to stay put with Blues.

It's important to note that Blues were relegated in the season after Jobe's exit - hardly an ideal environment for a youngster still finding his way. Though Sunderland themselves endured a disappointing campaign by finishing in mid-table, frequent opportunities were handed to prized young starlets such as Jobe, who went on to make 47 appearances in his debut season.

Jobe, like Sunderland, has gone up to another level this season. But he has been able to reap the rewards of joining a club which has earned an esteemed philosophy for recruiting, developing and profiting on young talent in recent times.