Borussia Dortmund has a history of nurturing promising English talent, and Jamie Gittens is the latest to emerge from this trend. At just 20, his career trajectory is already pointing towards the top.
Jadon Sancho`s move from English football to the Bundesliga in 2017 was unusual, with only seven Englishmen having played in Germany`s top division previously. Eight years later, that number has grown to 30, partly thanks to Sancho`s significant impact during his initial four seasons at Signal Iduna Park.
[Image: Jadon Sancho was a trend-setter for English players in the Bundesliga.]
While Harry Kane represents a seasoned, top-tier player signed to lead Bayern Munich, most English arrivals have been young prospects seeking a platform to showcase their skills. Following Sancho, Jude Bellingham arrived, becoming Bundesliga Player of the Season in 2022/23 before his transfer to Real Madrid, where he won the Champions League.
Gittens hasn`t yet reached the heights of these two former Dortmund stars, but he`s already proven to be more than just potential. Like Sancho, the young left winger left Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, joining Dortmund in January 2022 at age 17, hoping for more first-team chances.
[Video: The best of Jamie Gittens]
He initially joined the U19 squad, but it was immediately clear the level was below his capability. A torn ankle ligament limited him to six U19 Bundesliga appearances, where he still managed three goals and three assists. In the UEFA Youth League, he netted six times in just five matches.
He scored in Dortmund`s 2-1 U19 league final win against Hertha Berlin and started in the Junior DFB Cup final, which VfB Stuttgart won 2-1.
[Image: Gittens scored for Dortmund against Hertha in the U19 Bundesliga final in 2022.]
His strong performances led to a promotion to the first-team squad by Marco Rose in April 2022. He made his debut as a late substitute in a 6-1 victory over Wolfsburg and started for the first time two games later in a 4-3 loss to Bochum. He finished the season with four Bundesliga appearances and helped England win the U19 UEFA European Championship that summer.
Following his first start, Rose praised the young talent: “He brings something we`re missing, something unique to our squad. He`s still adjusting to the Bundesliga`s pace, but he performed very well, and it was a great match for him.”
Edin Terzić, the new head coach, managed Gittens carefully in 2022/23, using him sparingly. He made four league starts and 15 appearances, a number affected by another significant injury layoff. Despite limited time, he scored his first professional goal against Freiburg on Matchday 2 and ended the season with three goals and one assist.
Terzić also praised him after his Freiburg goal: “For him, it`s simple: he has the ability to decide games. He`s a game-changer – and that`s what I wanted to see from him.”
[Image: Edin Terzić (r.) was the first Dortmund boss to significantly use Gittens (l.).]
Putting injury issues behind him, Gittens worked to regain his place in 2023/24. He played 34 matches across all competitions, marking a return to consistency. He contributed two goals and eight assists, notably scoring and assisting against AC Milan in the Champions League, hinting at future potential.
A full, injury-free pre-season and Nuri Şahin`s arrival helped him take the next step. Although he started the season opener against Eintracht Frankfurt on the bench, he proved to be the match-winner, scoring twice in a 2-0 victory.
[Video: Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Eintracht Frankfurt – highlights]
This marked the beginning of an electrifying first half of the season where Gittens scored 11 times, including four goals in the Champions League group stage. He was a key positive during a challenging period for Dortmund.
His goals were notable not just for quantity but also quality. His first against Frankfurt was a stunning strike into the top corner from a tight angle. His solo brilliance opened the scoring against Bayern Munich on Matchday 12.
Gittens scored twice against Freiburg during the season and also netted against reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen, repeatedly demonstrating his ability to perform against top teams.
[Image: Gittens (r.) played his best football so far under Nuri Şahin.]
Following a dip in form, Şahin`s departure, and Niko Kovač`s arrival reduced Gittens` starting opportunities. He started just six of Kovač`s 15 Bundesliga matches in charge during 2024/25. However, this reduction meant he played only five fewer games than his total from the previous two seasons combined, suggesting workload management might have been a factor.
Despite less playing time, Kovač praised Gittens` attitude: “He`s working hard and trying to earn his chance in training. I wish I could give him more minutes, but the situation hasn`t allowed it. He`s very important and, with more time in upcoming games, he will provide what he showed earlier in the season – lots of goals,” he stated in April.
[Image: Gittens (l.) has seen his playing time reduced under Kovač (r.).]
Despite fewer minutes late in the season, statistics show Gittens was a significant contributor. Only Serhou Guirassy had more goals (21) and shots (90) for Dortmund in the Bundesliga than Gittens` eight goals and 53 shots. Similarly, Guirassy edged him in duels won (264 to 242).
His pace is a major asset, highlighted by his stats. His top speed (35.96 km/h) was the third highest for a Dortmund player and in the top 20 league-wide. He also completed the third most sprints (648) behind Julian Brandt (713) and Guirassy (687).
Naturally, his performances have attracted interest from across Europe. Sporting director Sebastian Kehl confirmed “contact” from Chelsea before the FIFA Club World Cup, but Dortmund “didn`t reach an agreement because we have different ideas about the player`s current value”.
[Image: Gittens played an important role for Dortmund in 2024/25, especially during the first half of the season.]
“He is fully committed to Borussia Dortmund. He grew up here, and the club gave him the opportunity to develop. Jamie is looking forward to the Club World Cup and will give his all for the club,” Kehl added.
Precisely what the future holds for Gittens remains uncertain, but his ability to influence games is undeniable. 2025/26 could very well be the season where he truly establishes himself as one of the sport`s brightest young wingers.
