Arsenal & Chelsea dealt transfer blow despite ‘initial talks’

Arsenal and Chelsea are among the clubs to have initiated talks with Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, according to reports in Germany.

The England U21 international has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at the Signal Iduna Park and he is being monitored by a host of top Premier League clubs ahead of the 2025 summer transfer window.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have all contacted Gittens’ representatives, as per Sky Germany, in a bid to gauge the possibility of finalising a deal next year.

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However, Gittens reportedly “feels at home” at Dortmund and he is eager to continue his development with the Bundesliga side, rather than push for a Premier League transfer in 2025.

The Englishman is keen to eventually return to his homeland, having spent time at Reading and Manchester City as a youngster, but he wants to remain at Dortmund for the time being, meaning a big-money move next summer is currently unlikely.

Arsenal and Chelsea may therefore be required to end their pursuit of Gittens for now, despite initiating talks with his representatives in recent weeks.

The 20-year-old has scored eight goals and provided four assists in 19 appearances across all competitions so far this season, with his latest strike coming against Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker.

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What has Nuri Sahin said?

Following his sublime solo goal during Dortmund’s 1-1 draw versus Bayern on Saturday, head coach Nuri Sahin was quick to praise Gittens during an interview with Sky Sport.

“You need one-on-one players who have speed. He’s maturing in his game. We talk a lot about risk and reward. When do I go into the one-on-one, when do I prepare for it?

“When he gets rolling, he’s a fantastic player. He’s also made huge strides defensively,” Sahin added.

Gittens’ current contract at Dortmund runs until 2028, while his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at €36.1 million.