After winning the North East Football Writers’ Association Young Player of the Year award alongside teammate Chris Rigg, Jobe Bellingham has praised Sunderland’s dedication to youngsters.

It is a wonderful achievement for both players who have shone this season in red-and-white. With almost 5,000 minutes played and 12 goal involvements, the young combination has been essential to the Black Cats’ 2024–25 campaign while exhibiting maturity beyond their years.

For Bellingham, 19, the honor goes beyond personal significance; it underscores Sunderland’s dedication to nurturing young talent and shows his close relationship with Rigg, both on and off the field.

“It feels great,” he remarked. “I am incredibly honored to have received the prize. I’m rather happy about it because many elite players have won it before. Above all, I believe Riggy truly deserves it, and I’m happy we can share it. That will always be associated with both of our names. I enjoy playing with him. We are very good friends and share a very unique bond.

It demonstrates the club’s progress and their remarkable ability to develop young players. The club is a terrific location to be, and it has become a part of its identity.

Rigg has already made more than 50 senior appearances at the young age of 17, which Bellingham says is evidence of his unwavering drive and perseverance.

“I knew about him before I joined Sunderland, but since coming to the club, he’s been one of the players I’ve been most impressed with, along with Dan Neil. I’ve played with them, so I can attest to their caliber and hard ethic. Riggy works out daily as if he wants to improve. The finest thing about him is his immense ambition and determination. He will continue to advance because he is driven to get better.