Chelsea’s interest in Jamie Gittens: Do they actually need the winger?

Chelsea have been linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund star Jamie Gittens during this transfer window.

The Blues, under Todd Boehly’s ownership group, have spent over £1 billion since 2022 on player recruitment, and they do not seem to be stopping soon. Even with the array of wingers at the club, they are keen on bringing Gittens in.

This piece aims to look at the pros and cons of the reported interest. 

Maresca is interested in another winger

Following the decision of the club not to make Jadon Sancho’s loan move permanent, the Blues are now considering bringing a new winger in. 

Maresca said: “Jadon is not with us so for sure that is a position we need to do something.

“We have Noni, Pedro and Ty only as the proper wingers so something for sure is going to happen. When the transfer window is open, for sure, we can do something.”

It is also worth noting that manager Enzo Maresca has made no secret about bringing a new winger in, as he hopes to add competition for Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, and Tyrique George. Not to forget Estevao Willian who will be joining the club after the Club World Cup

Apart from Sancho’s departure, Mykhailo Mudryk was provisionally suspended by the FA in December after violating the anti-doping rules, but now faces a potential four-year ban. That means he will not be available for selection anymore until his ban is over.

The two situations have forced Chelsea boss Maresca to look into the market for replacements. It is well documented that Maresca, who is also an admirer of Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, has named Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens as his number one choice.

Why is Chelsea interested in Jamie Gittens?

Chelsea have been heavily linked with England Under-21 star Jamie Gittens this summer transfer window.

Chelsea, having been turned down some weeks back, are preparing a new offer to Borussia Dortmund for Jamie Gittens. Although there has been a verbal agreement between the Blues and the 20-year-old, a fee has not been agreed upon with the Bundesliga giants who are holding out for closer to the £50million-mark.

Having fallen out of favour with manager Niko Kovač, the Borussia Dortmund star, who is featuring for the German club at the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA, could be on his way to the Premier League if the Blues have their way. 

“He can become the next [Jadon] Sancho, Erling Haaland or [Jude] Bellingham,” former Dortmund striker Karl-Heinz Riedle said in November.

By the statement above, the club see him as an asset that could fetch them some big money, and would make it difficult for the Blues to get a deal done quickly. 

“He has no fear. For me, he is one of the best one-on-one players I have ever seen, to be honest. He will be a really good player,” said Dortmund winger Karim Adeyemi.

With the qualities mentioned above, it is easy to see why Chelsea are keen on bringing him to Stamford Bridge. 

“Gittens has been a long-term target for Chelsea. They were looking at him in January, but that wasn’t seen as viable,” BBC Sport football news reporter Nizaar Kinsella said.

“They are looking to get more than one option in every position, the squad will need to be stronger because of the Champions League pressures,” Kinsella added.

“The squad will be quite well balanced now. The question is would Gittens and [Liam] Delap hit the round running? They are still young players, so there are question marks.”

“Gittens is a young English player with that Man City link again, so he can play that style of football,” Kinsella said.

“He also has a relationship with some of the recruiters; there are a lot of ex-Man City staff who know him and have had success with signing former City players.”

According to Kinsella, Gittens also matches what co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart are looking for — a young, versatile winger who can grow over time, is tied to a long-term deal, and could be sold for a good profit in the future.

Gittens has previously been on the books of the Blues briefly before turning them down to continue his development at Reading. He moved to Manchester City’s youth team instead, where he spent two seasons before a move to Borussia Dortmund in 2020. However, he did not make his senior debut for the club until 2022. The 2024/25 season was his breakout year, as he scored eight goals in 32 Bundesliga appearances.

Like Liam Delap and Cole Palmer, Gittens also has strong Manchester City links and could be the latest to move to London.

Is Gittens a must buy?

Following the conclusion of the 2024/25 Premier League season, Chelsea released the names of players who would be leaving Stamford Bridge by the end of June. Most released players were from the academy. 

Although the likes of Raheem Sterling, João Félix, and Christopher Nkunku were not mentioned, they are expected to leave the Blues this summer. The consequence of that is the Blues will need some replacements. Meanwhile, Brazilian Estevao Willian will be joining after the Club World Cup, but there is an obsession with bringing Gittens in. 

Gittens is talented, but seems to be overpriced by Borussia Dortmund. Another key factor is Gittens’ experience; he hasn’t played a lot of first-team football at the top level. The 2024/25 season was just his breakout year, and that could be a huge gamble if they cough out a huge amount of money for him.

Therefore, if Chelsea are looking for someone to make an instant impact, he might not be the answer just yet. But if they are thinking long-term, then Gittens could be a smart signing.

Meanwhile, any arrival in London is expected to raise more interest in Chelsea tickets for the forthcoming season. 

In summary, Chelsea need another winger, but with their interest in Gittens, it fits their youth-focused strategy. The player is keen on the move, and Chelsea are also serious about bringing him in. It seems only a fee agreement with the club is stalling the deal. 

With spots on the wings to be filled, Gittens or any winger looks like the right move. 

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