Jobe Bellingham's ideal position named by Niko Kovac as Borussia Dortmund coach 'very happy' with English midfielder despite family confrontation

Dortmund head coach Kovac believes that English starlet Bellingham’s ideal position lies deeper in midfield, identifying the No. 6 role as the Englishman’s strongest fit. The 19-year-old summer signing, who arrived in Dortmund amid high expectations and family comparisons to his brother Jude, has had an inconsistent start to life in the Bundesliga.

Despite some stuttering performances, Kovac expressed his satisfaction with the youngster’s progress and highlighted his maturity and adaptability. Ahead of Dortmund’s clash with Heidenheim, Kovac confirmed that Bellingham remains central to his plans, especially in a team still searching for consistency at the start of the season.

Kovac was clear about the role he envisions for Bellingham, saying at a press conference: "I think his strengths lie more in the number six position, he needs the game in front of him. We saw that in the last game, especially compared to the games before. I'm very happy with him.

"I like his attitude toward the profession, the motivation he shows. He is very mature for his young age. You can see that every day when working with him.

"We need to demonstrate the mental maturity and freshness to win the game there. We're facing an opponent who will challenge us physically. We have to try to hold our own."

The younger Bellingham arrived in Dortmund as one of the club’s marquee signings of 2025, seen as both a footballing investment and a symbolic continuation of what is becoming a family legacy at the club. While he impressed at the Club World Cup, his early Bundesliga outings have underlined the difficulties of adapting to a more physically demanding and tactically disciplined league. Kovac’s decision to anchor him deeper could prove crucial, rather than using him as a pure playmaker, giving him the game in front of him may allow him to dictate tempo, break up play and develop into a more rounded midfielder. For Dortmund, whose inconsistency has been a long-standing issue, unlocking Jobe’s potential in the right role could provide much-needed balance in midfield as they chase both Bundesliga and Champions League ambitions.

Dortmund return to Bundesliga action this weekend against Heidenheim, where Bellingham is expected to start in his new deeper role. The game comes ahead of a much bigger stage, their Champions League opener away to Juventus on September 16, a fixture that will test both Kovac’s system and the young midfielder’s capacity to handle high-pressure matches.