Jude Bellingham was welcomed home with a rapturous applause by Birmingham City fans ahead of their 3-2 win against Reading in the Championship on Friday night.
The St Andrew's crowd certainly gave the England superstar a hero's welcome, as the 19-year-old walked onto the pitch to say thank you to the club's supporters, who had remained loyal to him during his ascent to the top of world football.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder, who began his footballing journey at the midlands club, arrived back in the United Kingdom earlier this week, after being an instrumental figure in England's World Cup campaign.
The Three Lions were knocked out of the competition during last Saturday's heartbreaking quarter-final loss to France.
Bellingham took centre stage in the tournament, impressing with his maturity and composure, while featuring in all of their matches and scoring his first international goal against Iran. And it's clear the Birmingham faithful were proud to welcome him back home.
'Jude Bellingham, he's one of our own,' the fans chanted as the teenager strolled around the pitch, arms raised in gratitude to those who watched him rise through the ranks as one of England's brightest young prospects.
And speaking of the future, it appears while the midfielder came to thank fans, he was also in attendance at St Andrew's to watch his younger brother, Jobe, who came off the bench to replace another young star, Hannibal Mejbri.
It's safe to say Bellingham picked a great game to watch, with Troy Deeney being the difference, netting a brace of goals to give Birmingham the three points, despite the midland's side weathering a late comeback from the visitors.
Questions are now starting to arise over his future, with the talented midfielder's contract with Dortmund set to expire in 2025.
After his excellent performances at the World Cup, Bellingham will have done a great deal to enhance his reputation as one of the most exciting midfielders on the planet.
Clubs around Europe are looking to tie him down, with Liverpool reportedly being the front runners to acquire the English midfielder.
But it was Birmingham where his career began, with the 19-year-old rising through the ranks at the club's academy to join the senior side in 2019.
So impressed they were by him, they even retired the No 22 shirt in tribute to their future superstar - and they definitely made their admiration known once again tonight.
micky1995
9
Bellingham and Birmingham? I didn't get that at first, what a love story