‘The ability to decide games’ – Who is Jamie Gittens and why do Chelsea want to sign him? | OneFootball

Chelsea are hoping to sign winger Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund this summer.

The Blues are keen to sign the 20-year-old to play in the Club World Cup, but that would require a deal to be completed before the deadline of 10 June, which now looks unlikely.

But what does Gittens have that has Chelsea so interested in him? We’ve taken a look at why the Blues are so keen…

An instant upgrade

Chelsea have been through a plethora of wingers since the Blueco takeover in 2022, but they have had few big success stories yet.

Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto, who arrived last summer, have been underwhelming, with the Blues opting not to sign Sancho on a permanent deal despite having the option to do so. Neto has shown glimpses of what he can do, meanwhile, but has struggled to consistently impact games.

Noni Madueke has probably been the most consistently impactful of the wide options at Maresca’s disposal, but big money signing Mykhailo Mudryk remains suspended while the outcome of a failed drugs test are examined.

Gittens has certainly shown enough for Dortmund to suggest he can instantly improve the Chelsea squad.

His dribbling is particularly impressive, with his 8.6 completed dribbles per 90 double Noni Madueke’s 4.3. His lightning pace, having clocked a fastest speed of 22.34mph last season, could also be crucial in beginning counterattacks, something Sancho’s lack of pace could not achieve.

Chelsea have shown an intent to improve on the counter with their summer window signings so far, with Liam Delap’s addition being a prime example.

Gittens has also shown the ability to finish well, scoring 12 goals last season.

The ‘game changer’ at Dortmund

Speaking back in 2022 after a win over Freiburg in which Gittens scored, former Dortmund boss Edin Terzic said: “Jamie is someone who can get in there and open things up with his first touch.

“Most importantly, he can quicken up the pace of the game. That’s what we had in mind. He livened up the game very well and was involved in a lot of good offensive actions.

“With him, it’s basically quite simple: he has the ability to decide games. He’s a game-changer – and that’s precisely what I wanted to see from him. He doesn’t simply play the game. He makes the difference. That’s what he accomplished.”

Another former Dortmund boss, Nuri Sahin, also spoke highly of the youngster’s potential after he scored against Bayern Munich last season. “You need 1-on-1 players who have speed,” he said. “He’s maturing in his game. We talk a lot about risk and reward. When do I go into the 1-on-1, when do I prepare for it? When he gets rolling, he’s a fantastic player. He’s also made huge strides defensively.”

He fits the Chelsea strategy

Chelsea have embarked on a clear transfer strategy of signing young players with huge potential, rather than established talents, since their current owners took over.

Gittens is not the finished article, but the performances he has exhibited over the past year at just 20-year-old should give Maresca encouragement that the high potential he has can be realised.

The fact he also spent time in both Chelsea’s own and Manchester City’s academies fits the club’s model too. Delap became the latest former City player to head to Stamford Bridge this month, joining his former team-mates Romeo Lavia and Cole Palmer.

Gittens’ versatility is also a great asset of his, and is able to feature on both flanks, much like Chelsea’s other forward players.

Having already tasted Champions League football over the course of the last couple of years, Gittens would arrive as one of the more experienced players in European football’s premier club competition, something Chelsea have not tasted in over two years. They will return next season, however, and Gittens’ addition could help them.

Availability

Gittens’ injury record in previous campaigns has also been impressive. In the previous two seasons, the England U21 international did not miss a single match through injury, with the 21/22 and 22/23 seasons the only blemishes on an impeccable body of health. Those two seasons saw Gittens sidelined for 52 matches with a shoulder injury, but since then there has been no reoccurring issues and he has played consistently.