Jude Bellingham is one of the best players in the world right now. Without a doubt, he is an era-defining player, and seeing him compete at the top of his game is delightful to experience.
Look, he might have taken on the world in Dortmund's infamous yellow and black, but the iconic German side still played a big part in his story. Signing him from Birmingham City was one of the best decisions BVB ever made, and even after his sale, Dortmund is still benefiting from that initial gamble.
But, on the other hand, so is Jude Bellingham, just with a different club.
The former Dortmund superstar has already won La Liga and the Champions League. This is more than he won in Germany (we won't mention the heartbreak of his final game).
Borussia Dortmund is better without Jude Bellingham
It might seem weird to hear that Dortmund is a better club without Jude Bellingham, but it is the case, even despite his undeniable quality. And that is a compliment to both Jude Bellingham and Dortmund.
Jude Bellingham would obviously improve Dortmund if he played right now. That is a given. However, the financial benefit of Dortmund selling Jude Bellingham has proved to be one of the best decisions the club has ever made.
If Dortmund kept Jude Bellingham, then they would run the risk of relying on him too much. Instead, with the immense profit they generated from his sale, BVB were able to invest in the squad, and that is starting to pay dividends.
Players like Felix Nmecha would not exist in a Dortmund jersey without Jude Belling being sold. And, look, that wouldn't have been a popular thing to say when Nmecha first signed, but he is certainly beginning to make a name for himself at the Westfalenstadion now.
There is a feeling that Dortmund still isn't done with the post-Bellingham rebuild, which is even more impressive. What's important to note here is that the revenue accrued from selling Bellingham does not always need to be spent on the squad, but the infrastructure is far more impressive in Dortmund because of Bellingham's sale, and it will only continue to improve.
To cut a long story short, Jude Bellingham's sale had a ripple effect. It might have taken some time for Dortmund to really benefit from it, but they are building a better team than one which centered on Bellingham.
Fans can only hope that both Dortmund AND Bellingham continue to improve.