Birmingham are retiring Jude Bellingham's number 22 shirt, a move which has been met with disbelief even among the club's own supporters.
The 17-year-old played his final game for Blues on Wednesday evening in the Championship defeat to Derby, ahead of a move to German side Borussia Dortmund.
Bellingham has been with the midlands club since the age of seven, and City felt moved to honour his time at the club by retiring his shirt.
"This is my Club. I love this Club to bits. I'll only look back on Birmingham City with love and fond memories."
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) July 22, 2020
Jude - A message to you. 😢💙
"The 22 shirt has become synonymous with Jude, his rise to the first team aged just 16 years and 38 days," a statement on the club's official website read.
"And as such the club have decided it would be fitting to retire this number, to remember one of our own and to inspire others."
💷 Last week Jude Bellingham was earning £145 per week at Birmingham.
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) July 20, 2020
🤑 Now he's on £60,000 at Dortmund after completing his £26m move!
⚽️ Here's the goals that helped @BellinghamJude become the most expensive 17-year-old in world football...#HeyJude pic.twitter.com/40uvF6tP6Y
Bellingham has been one of very few bright lights in an otherwise miserable season for the club, who finished two points above the relegation zone.
But despite his contribution, it was a move which left even Birmingham supporters puzzled.
One Twitter user described it as "a monumental PR f*** up" while a Blues fan wrote: "Don't worry lads, next season we'll only get 22 points as a tribute to Jude as well."
Bellingham made 44 appearances for the club, scoring four goals.
Not the way I wanted to go out. Gave everything but wasn’t to be. I can’t thank @BCFC and the academy enough for what they’ve done for me over the last 10 years. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with all the staff and all my teammates during that period of time and owe... pic.twitter.com/TUzEbxAAWP
— Jude Bellingham (@BellinghamJude) July 23, 2020
Clubs to retire shirt numbers in players' honour:
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) July 23, 2020
West Ham: Bobby Moore's No.6
AC Milan: Paolo Maldini's No.3
AC Milan: Franco Baresi's No.6
Inter Milan: Javier Zanetti's No.4
Napoli: Diego Maradona's No.10
Ajax: Johan Cruyff's No.14
And....
Birmingham: Jude Bellingham's No.22
Jude Bellingham is on a very small list of players to have shirts retired at English clubs, including Bobby Moore. Bradley Wright-Phillips also received the honour at New York Red Bulls. pic.twitter.com/sa2mwo5ec2
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) July 23, 2020
Andres Iniesta
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) July 23, 2020
🤝
Jude Bellingham pic.twitter.com/F9003vZ9i7
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