Jamie Gittens looks set to be the latest young English star to forge a promising career at Borussia Dortund.
The London-born 20-year-old has made a sensational start to the season, scoring twice off the bench in the Black and Yellow’s 3-0 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wedensday night.
Having also found the net twice in the Bundesliga this season, there is hope Gittens could follow in the footsteps of Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho in becoming one of Europe’s top talents while at the Signal Iduna Park.
Here is all you need to know about the talented forward.
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Jamie Gittens: His career so far
Previously going by his longer surname Bynoe-Gittens, there has been plenty of excitement surrounding the youngster ever since his academy days.
Born in 2004, Gittens was originally at Reading’s academy, while also spending time on the books at Chelsea.
After impressing with the Royals, the skillful dribbler was poached by Manchester City’s academy, where he spent two years between 2018 and 2020.
The then 16-year-old was later attracted by Dortmund’s famed reputation for developing youngsters in 2020, the same summer Bellingham arrived in Germany for £25million.
But while Bellingham’s impact in the Bundesliga was pretty instant, Gittens has had to wait a little longer to make an impact aong Dortmund’s first team.
The coronavirus pandemic won’t have helped a young player trying to settle, nor would a torn ligament injury which kept him out for a number of months.
Step by step. pic.twitter.com/UXLQRnrBDi
— Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (@jbgittens) September 23, 2023
In 2021-22 Gittens got his first chance of first-team football, making four league appearances as well as a handful of outings in the cup and the Champions League.
He scored three goals in 15 league appearances the season later but injuries once again disrupted his progress and play time over those two campaigns.
The 2023-24 season was the first which Gittens managed to stay injury free as he made 25 appearances where he would score a goal and provide six assists, as well as another in the Champions League as they went on to reach the final.
During his time at Dortund, Gittens has also been progressing through England’s youth ranks, starting in the final as the Young Lions won the Under-19 Championship in 2022.
Promising start to the season
While his talent has not been in doubt, there is hope that the 2024-25 season is the one which Gittens really kicks on in Black and Yellow.
And his first five games suggest that might just what is happening. While he has started just once, has featured in all five of Dortmund’s games in all competitions and scored four goals – one shy of his total efforts across four previous seasons.
While still a bit-part player, he is quickly becoming Dortmund’s super sub after coming off the bench to score twice in two separate games.
The first came on the opening day of the season to seal a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt before repeating the trick in Bruges on Wednesday night – the second a showcase of his excellent dribbling and finishing ability as he stepped past two defenders before slotting home.
Jamie Gittens, what a talent 🤩
The young English winger makes it 𝘁𝘄𝗼 goals in ten minutes 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/pA30Kb4kcT
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 18, 2024
Gittens’ way of operating wide before cutting inside is similar to former Dortmund star Sancho and the current Black and Yellow star says he has learned a lot from the now Chelsea winger.
“I’ve learned a lot from Jadon,” Gittens said (via WAZ). “For example, that I have to play with one or two touches more often, that I have to offer deeper runs more often.
“And when he plays, he enjoys himself. I’ve learned that too. Jadon is a friend.”
Is Gitten England’s next star?
German media have hailed Gittens as “England’s next superstar” – so is he yet another young forward Three Lions fans should get excited about?
His club boss Nuri Sahin certainly thinks so and revealed after his match-winning performance against Frankfurt that Gittens’ mind is firmly set on making himself a star.
“Jamie has lofty aspirations. We have high expectations for him. I’ve had many conversations with him. He’s told us during training camp that he wishes to develop and define himself through goals and assists.”
“The scenes [today] are the best testament to his development,” Sahin continued, “Without any detours, he’s on his way up. That’s what I expect from my players, particularly off the bench.”
After another standout display tonight, Gittens looks set to be a name we here plenty more in the coming weeks and months.
