Jamie Gittens Stats: Why Chelsea are seeking to sign Dortmund wing-wizard

With Chelsea closing in on Liam Delap as they look to add another striker to the books, the Blues are also weighing up a move for Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens if reports today are to be believed. Fresh from their Europa Conference League triumph over Real Betis, the west London side are hoping to add to their frontline with yet more young talent.

Gittens benefitted from Dortmund’s failure to re-sign Jadon Sancho from Manchester United last summer after he returned on loan. Indeed, the former started just 14 league matches in 2023/24, building upon that return to feature from the outset 21 times. That said, under Niko Kovac, who took over the Dortmund reins back in January, Gittens struggled to really nail down a starting spot.

This was through no fault of Gittens’ own, however. Kovac’s switch to a three-man backline meant there was no defined role in the Dortmund starting XI for the wideman. With Kovac favouring a system with two supporting players for Serhou Guirassy, a setup that worked well as the German side wrapped up a top-four finish, the possibility of Gittens leaving increases significantly.

Without a need for an out-and-out winger, Dortmund have a great chance to cash in on a sellable asset to help invest in the squad, and mould a side that would help play to Kovac’s managerial strengths. Other interested parties should also take note of Gittens’ potential availability, and Chelsea’s desire to sign the English winger is understandable.

It was Sancho who nominally held down the left wing role at Stamford Bridge last season, but head coach Enzo Maresca used no fewer than six players in the role in the Premier League. With question marks still lingering over Sancho’s future – the Blues have an obligation to buy for £25m – they need (further) investment on the frontline to find the right player for the left wing spot.

What stands out most about Gittens is his directness when on the ball. It’s well known that Maresca wants his wingers to play with freedom to create for others, and this approach plays to the 20-year-old’s strengths. Indeed, of those to have made at least 15 appearances, Gittens completed more dribbles per 90 (3.9) than any other player in the Bundesliga last season.

What’s more, even with limited minutes, Gittens still showed a fine end product, scoring eight times and providing three assists across 1786 minutes of gametime at a rate of a goal involvement every 162.4 minutes. He proved in the opening months of the season how effective he can be with regular game time, and in all likelihood, he’ll be handed the chance to consolidate a starting spot at Stamford Bridge should the Blues firm up their reported interest in the youngster.

What’s key, too, is that Gittens is incredibly confident in his ability to go for goal. Eight goals my not seem like much, with the winger averaging 2.6 shots per 90 in the Bundesliga last season, but an xG overperformance of 3.01, that the eighth biggest in Germany’s top tier; there is a winger that is willing to chance his luck in his pursuit of goal, surprising goalkeepers in the process.

By comparison, Chelsea’s biggest xG overperformer of wingers in the Premier League last season was Jadon Sancho (0.38). The wideman in Maresca’s system need to get their efforts away more frequently rather than strive to create for others, and this is why Gittens is a rumoured target for the west London side.

With Chelsea also prepared to listen to offers for Noni Madueke, there’ll be less competition for a starting spot, meaning Gittens will be afforded the opportunity to really nail down a place in the team.

Many may joke about Chelsea’s stockpiling of wingers, yet reports of a move for Gittens do make sense. He could be just the left winger the Blues need to build upon last season’s top four finish and Europa Conference League triumph.