Jobe Bellingham Joins Brother Jude in England Squad as Cole Palmer Is Left Out

By The Arena Staff

LONDON, Nov. 6, 2026 — Thomas Tuchel just handed England a new Bellingham problem of the good kind. Jobe is in the senior squad for the first time, right alongside his brother Jude, for next week's UEFA Nations League games against Croatia and Spain.

The 21-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder earned the call after a strong run in Germany and as captain of the under-21s. Tuchel said Under-21s coach Lee Carsley had been "talking highly" of him for weeks and that a thin central midfield left an opening. Bournemouth's Alex Scott is injured, and Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly is suspended for the Croatia match after collecting a yellow card in the last camp, ESPN and The Guardian reported.

Fulham's Josh King, 19, also received a first senior call-up. Tuchel said King made a "top impression" in England's pre-World Cup camp last summer and can cover the wings and the No. 10 role. "It's the moment to have a look at him and reward him for a good start to the season," Tuchel said, according to The Guardian.

The flipside of those promotions was a pointed snub of Cole Palmer. The Chelsea forward is fully fit after England ran medical checks with his club Thursday, Sky Sports reported, but Tuchel left him out anyway, along with Phil Foden and Kobbie Mainoo. "It counts when you're in camp," Tuchel said of Palmer, who withdrew from the previous window with a minor fitness issue. "I said last time, he misses too many opportunities to impress. The players who were in camp built something extraordinary." He added that the door "is always open" and that the decision was "not personal."

England also recalled Arsenal defender Ben White for the first time since March and brought Inter Milan fullback Djed Spence back after injury. Declan Rice returns after missing the last camp. Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford are out injured, and Noni Madueke was overlooked. Harry Kane is in line for a record 126th men's cap against Croatia at Wembley on Thursday, Nov. 12. Spain awaits three days later.

Twenty-one sets of brothers have played for England's men's team. The Bellinghams are the latest. Jude posted a childhood photo of the pair in matching Birmingham shirts; the football can wait a beat for that one.

Sources: Sky Sports, The Guardian and ESPN.