Since then Jamie Gittens has established himself as one of the brightest prospects on the continent. It is little wonder that his talents have captivated larger clubs such as Chelsea. The young forward, who made his mark at Borussia Dortmund, showcases an extraordinary dedication to improving his game and an undeniable flair for attacking play. Gittens impressed in 48 appearances for Dortmund last season. Besides producing a goal and an assist, he displayed his dynamic dribbling and crossing prowess, running circles around the competition. His journey from Manchester City to Dortmund in 2018 highlights both his talent and the resilience he has shown in overcoming adversity.
At just 18 years old, Gittens has already carved a niche for himself in the competitive world of top-tier football. He still plays at top end speed and has great feel for the game. This brings him to be a smart pick up for any club looking to add more firepower to their attack. As Chelsea look to strengthen their squad, Gittens could be the x-factor that adds a new dimension to their attacking play.
Early Development and Move to Dortmund
Gittens’ path really started to kick off when he had the opportunity to join Manchester City as a youth player. His early dedication to learning was evident. He focused diligently on his skills and embraced opportunities to train and develop, such as participating in showcase matches organized by FFDTV, a London-based youth football organization.
A year after he had joined Dortmund from City, I caught up with him to do some training at a performance camp in Bristol where I’d been doing some work. – Rhys Denton
His transfer to Borussia Dortmund in 2018 proved to be an inflection point in his career. Initially, he played second fiddle to fellow Bundesliga sensation, Jadon Sancho, at Dortmund. Yet, despite these setbacks, the club’s management saw his potential and continued to back him. One of the most important figures at Dortmund, Lars Ricken, saw Gittens’ abilities before anyone else did.
“When we signed him, at the time, he was still below Sancho’s level. We thought we could cultivate him to become a world-class player,” said Lars Ricken.
2022 was Gittens’ first year with head coach Marco Rose, who helped start Gittens’ professional career at Dortmund. He dealt with the double whammy of needing to adjust to a new environment but needing to prove himself against veterans with more tenure in the league.
Performance and Playing Style
What made last season a little unusual, though, is that Gittens had the performance metrics to match his output. He registered a blistering high speed of 35.96 km/h, making him the 16th quickest player in the Bundesliga this past season. Despite not playing a full 90 minutes in any match throughout the season, his contribution to the team’s attacking dynamics was significant.
Gittens’ style of play is defined by explosive dribbling ability and a willingness to take defenders on in order to create scoring chances. He provides twice the amount of progressive dribbles and crosses as compatriot Jadon Sancho. This is a testament to his rare ability to manipulate defenders and open passing lanes. He’s dangerous in isolation when dueling full-backs, frequently choosing to go inside or whipping in pinpoint service.
“You want those players to have the confidence and feel free to go again, and again, and again, and Jamie was really relentless with it. He wanted to have the ball, he wanted to travel with it and beat players, but he also had a lens on being productive.” – Rhys Denton
Gittens’ dogged commitment to becoming better shines through in the way he trains. He spends hours watching film of the game’s all-time greats, trying to take their most effective tendencies and add them to his repertoire.
“We spent a lot of time in the car travelling down together and he was just looking at clips of players. Older players like Ronaldinho, right the way through to your Jadon Sanchos.” – Rhys Denton
Challenges and Future Prospects
For all of his accomplishments, Gittens had a tumultuous time at Dortmund. Meeting the high demands of life as a professional football player called for strength and mental toughness. Beyond his years, Jamari showed a maturity in how he tackled those hurdles with resilience.
Felix Nmecha, a teammate at Dortmund, noted Gittens’ growth throughout the season:
He’s obviously matured and improved, simply by playing more games,” – Felix Nmecha
For now, Gittens is raking in valuable experience and learning on the pitch. Third, he’s starting to make better decisions with the right information during games.
He’s just gaining more experience, and beginning to make the right decision at the right time. If he just continues on the trajectory he’s on, and doesn’t get burned out, there’s an infinite future for him. – Felix Nmecha
With Chelsea already linked with an attempt to bring him into their youth setup, Gittens could be set for a thrilling career ahead of him. His explosive style of play and commitment to improvement suggest that he could become a key player for any team that invests in him.
Leave a Reply