Chelsea Sign Jamie Gittens in £50m Deal Before Club World Cup

In a bold step to reinforce their squad ahead of the upcoming Club World Cup, Chelsea sign Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, marking their fifth major acquisition of a busy summer window. The 20-year-old English winger has reportedly agreed to a seven-year deal with the Blues, with the West London club closing in on a fee that could approach £50 million, Dortmund’s release clause for the player.

Chelsea initially submitted a £29.5 million offer but are expected to increase it before the first part of the summer transfer window closes on Tuesday. The club is hopeful of reaching an agreement in time to integrate Gittens into the squad before their international campaign begins.

Gittens Adds Depth to Maresca’s Rebuild

Gittens, who came through the youth ranks at both Chelsea and Manchester City, made the leap to the Bundesliga in 2020 and has since blossomed at Borussia Dortmund. Last season alone, he scored 12 goals in a breakout campaign, bringing his total tally to 17 goals in over 100 appearances for the German side.

Sporting director Sebastian Kehl previously hinted at a possible departure for Gittens amid financial reshuffling at Dortmund, saying:

“There’s definitely a market for him. He’s a very exciting player… We want to reduce wages. That said, it’s possible we’ll continue with some of these players. But some may no longer be part of the BVB squad next season.”

Gittens is expected to fill the void left by Jadon Sancho, who will not return to Stamford Bridge after Chelsea opted not to activate a £25 million permanent clause in his loan deal. The club reportedly paid a £5 million penalty to end the deal early.

Busy Summer Continues for the Blues

The deal for Jamie Gittens follows a flurry of summer signings by Enzo Maresca, who is reshaping the Chelsea squad with a youthful edge. So far, Chelsea have confirmed moves for Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian, Ecuadorian starlet Kendry Paez, as well as Liam Delap from Ipswich and Dário Essugo from Sporting Lisbon.

Gittens, an England U21 international, is returning to familiar territory at Chelsea, where he spent time as a youngster. His return marks a full-circle moment in a rapidly ascending career—and Maresca will be hoping his Bundesliga-honed talent can flourish in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho bid farewell with a heartfelt social media message:

“Grateful for the experience. Big love to everyone at Chelsea who made me feel at home — teammates, staff and the fans. Wishing the club all the best moving forward. Truly grateful. Thank you, Blues.”

Sancho made 45 appearances last season, scoring five goals and delivering ten assists, helping the Blues win the UEFA Conference League. With Gittens now on the brink of signing, Chelsea fans will be eager to see if the young winger can exceed those numbers in a new era under Maresca. For more of transfer news, do check out the link below.