Chelsea in advanced talks with Dortmund over major summer target | OneFootball

Chelsea Eye £50m Reunion With Jamie Gittens Ahead of Club World Cup Push

In a transfer window already humming with intent, Chelsea’s gaze has turned back to familiar soil. Talks are underway with Borussia Dortmund for Jamie Gittens, the 20-year-old England Under-21 winger who briefly passed through the Chelsea academy before taking a leap into German football. Now, the club seem determined to bring him home – and soon.

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Early Business With Ambition

Chelsea’s strategy in this summer’s transfer market is already clear: act early, act decisively. Having all but sealed a £30 million deal for Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, their sights have now shifted to Gittens, a dynamic left-sided forward with pedigree and potential.

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The deal is expected to cost over £50 million, a figure consistent with the release clause in Gittens’ Dortmund contract. Negotiations, as reported by The Telegraph, are progressing with a view to completing the transfer before both clubs head to the expanded FIFA Club World Cup this month.

While Dortmund prepare for the tournament, Chelsea will face LAFC, Flamengo and Espérance de Tunis in Group D. Strengthening before such a competition is no mere formality. It is a statement.

Return of a Wanderer

Gittens left Chelsea’s academy system as a youngster to seek first-team opportunities in Germany, a path increasingly travelled by young English players. In many ways, his journey mirrors that of Jadon Sancho, who blazed a similar trail from Manchester to Dortmund and back.

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Indeed, Chelsea’s current complications with Sancho, who they are obligated to either purchase for £20–25 million or release with a £5 million penalty, may explain their acceleration toward Gittens. Sancho’s uncertain future has created an opening, and Gittens is viewed as the more progressive, long-term solution.

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His performances back up the logic. Gittens scored against Real Madrid in the Champions League aged just 20 years and 75 days, becoming the youngest English player to do so in the competition. Though overshadowed by the Bellingham vs Sancho narrative in last year’s final, Gittens quietly underlined his value with a breakout season.

Eyes on the World Stage

There’s a growing sense of urgency around Chelsea’s plans. With head coach Enzo Maresca keen to implement his philosophy swiftly, the need for wide players who can operate with pace and intelligence is critical. Gittens, with his Bundesliga experience and tactical versatility, fits the bill.

Despite being name-checked by interim England boss Lee Carsley, Gittens was left out of the Under-21 Euros due to Dortmund’s Club World Cup participation. That decision, and Chelsea’s timing, suggest all parties know something significant is brewing.

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Homecoming With a Purpose

For Gittens, a return to Chelsea would not just be sentimental – it would be symbolic. He left to find opportunity and now comes back with purpose. A place in Chelsea’s starting XI under a new regime could be within reach, and for the Blues, investing in a former academy product who has already thrived abroad represents more than a neat narrative. It’s a recalibration of identity and ambition.

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If Chelsea get Jamie Gittens through the door before the Club World Cup, it feels like the start of something real under Enzo Maresca. This isn’t just another flashy signing – this is smart business. The club’s decision to bring back someone who knows Cobham, who’s matured at Dortmund, and who’s proven himself in the Champions League speaks volumes.

Gittens brings that raw flair Chelsea have been craving out wide. With Christopher Nkunku seemingly heading for the exit, and Sancho’s future still cloudy, Gittens could light up Stamford Bridge with the kind of electric directness fans have missed since the days of Hazard.

Let’s not forget the symbolism either. He left them as a boy and returns as a man ready to make a difference. At 20, he already plays with confidence beyond his years. If Chelsea can close this deal early and get him integrated before the Club World Cup, they’re not just preparing for a summer tournament – they’re building momentum for next season’s top four chase.

Chelsea’s transfer business has often lacked direction in recent years. But this one? This feels different. Gittens might just be the catalyst this project needs.