Jamie Gittens set to join Chelsea - Borussia Dortmund confirm deal in priniciple

Deal now imminent 

After Chelsea failed to sign 20-year-old winger Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup the deal is now set to go ahead with the summer window officially open. The Premier League side saw two offers turned down on the eve of the Club World Cup to sign the U21 England international from Dortmund. Gittens then travelled with Dortmund to the United States to play the Club World Cup with the Black and Yellows. But throughout the tournament a transfer remained a hot topic and Dortmund have now confirmed that a deal is in place

According to several media reports, Dortmund previously rejected an offer of €35m for Gittens a few days ago. Dortmund wanted in the region of €60m for the winger. The Black and Yellows underlined those demands by rejecting a second €50m offer. Reports from England suggested that Chelsea hoped the offer would be enough to convince Dortmund. Those hopes were immediately thwarted, as Dortmund not only turned down the offer but also increased their demands to €65m. Those demands have now been met, with Chelsea paying around €64m. Gittens has already agreed to personal terms with Chelsea for a contract running until 2032. 

"The negotiations with Chelsea were challenging, but in the end, we are glad that we can most likely realize our expectations and gain planning security," BVB Sporting Director Sebastian Kehl said in a club statement. "Jamie is an excellent player who has brought us great joy. It was his wish to take the next step in his career at Chelsea, and we wish him all the very best and much success." Chelsea are yet to confirm the deal. 

Set to join after Club World Cup – What can Chelsea expect from Gittens? 

So, what can Chelsea fans expect from Gittens? Signed by Dortmund on a free transfer in 2020, Gittens seemed destined to be the latest rising star in the Dortmund setup. Indeed, in 2024/25, Gittens appeared to have finally reached his full potential, with the young winger scoring five goals and four assists in just 15 league games, becoming a regular starter under Nuri Sahin. The problem, however, was that Dortmund’s season began to nosedive. After the club made the change to place Niko Kovac in the dugout, Gittens increasingly found himself on the substitutes bench.. 

With Gittens falling out of favour, Dortmund became increasingly motivated to cash in on the U21 international. Overall, the feeling was that, while talented, Gittens was also somewhat limited as a player. Very fast and strong in one-on-one situations, Gittens was very good at taking on players with speed on the flank. The problem, however, is that he is a one-trick pony. Unlike his more gifted teammate Karim Adeyemi, Gittens isn’t a player capable of playing multiple positions and is a less dangerous finisher. On top of that, Kovac also demands buy-in from his attackers in defense, which is why Kovac preferred Maximilian Beier. Hard work is an important mantra, and Gittens increasingly failed in that department. 

Despite those shortcomings, the market still appeared to be strong for Gittens with several clubs interested, even if Dortmund had to lower their initial €100m expectations. After all, there is still a good player there, and his pace, despite his limited tactical awareness, makes him a weapon who could thrive in the Premier League. As a result, Dortmund aren’t desperate, and even though a deal is likely, Chelsea will still have to meet the Bundesliga club’s demands to make it happen.