Following in the footsteps of English talents such as Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham, who both succeeded in Black and Yellow before making big-money transfers to the Premier League, Jamie Gittens was seen to be on a similar career path.
The first half of this season saw Gittens become a regular member of Nuri Sahin’s starting eleven, and his technical ability around the box gained him a lot of attention around Europe’s Big five leagues. Even now, both Arsenal and Chelsea seem prepared to fight for the young player’s signature, attracting him to play in his home country. Yet Gittens’ underlying numbers should concern his potential suitors.
There’s no denying Jamie Gittens is technically gifted, but the data from Transfermarkt tells a troubling story: While Nuri Sahin was in charge, Gittens was one of the few players who seemed to succeed. He played 2100 minutes in all competitions, scoring 11, and assisting five. But since new manager Niko Kovač took over in January, Gittens’ minutes have diminished to just 625, and his only goal contribution was goal in Dortmund’s 4-1 win over Freiburg. His Goals + Assists per 90 minutes has diminished from .69 to .14 since Kovač’s appointment.
We can only speculate on why Gittens performances have dipped so drastically. One reason could be due to the fact that Kovač does not always use a system with a traditional winger, which leaves Gittens frequently on the bench. It could also have to do with Gittens’ own attitude as he’s been quoted in the locker room:
"“I’ll be leaving soon anyway”"Jamie Gittens
Perhaps Gittens has simply checked out of the squad. But if he thinks he’s going to start for Arsenal or Chelsea next season, then the Englishman needs to rediscover form. His second season numbers could also make it more difficult for Sebastian Kehl and company to strike a high-value deal for the winger. Only time will tell, and at Gittens’ young age, his potential remains high.