Formerly in the academy at Reading Football Club, Jamie Gittens is the latest on the production line to make a splash among Europe’s football elite.
Now hailed at one of the hottest young talents on the continent, he started from humble beginnings. Born in Reading in August 2004, he played with local team Caversham Trents before he was picked up by Reading Academy in 2013, where he stayed for five years.
Gittens spent some vital years of his development with the academy before he left the club to join Manchester City in 2018.
He then made the bold decision to move to Germany as a teenager, signing for Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in 2020, following in the footsteps of other English stars such as Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham.
Having to deal with an injury-hit first season in Germany having suffered a torn ligament, Bynoe-Gittens made his mark in the 2021/22 campaign.
As well as making four first-team appearances, the winger impressed in the UEFA Youth League, netting six goals in four games.
He found the net in the Bundesliga for the first time in August 2022 in a 3-1 win at SC Freiburg.
His career continued to progress as he scored his first Champions League goal in an away victory at AC Milan in November 2023.
Gittens, who now prefers to be referred to as the last part of his surname rather than the double barrelled Bynoe-Gittens, is now a vital member of Dortmund’s first-team. He appeared in last year’s Champions League as a late substitute as Dortmund were defeated by Real Madrid at Wembley.
Showing adaptability to play on both wings, Gittens has had a tremendous start to the season and has scored five times and claimed three assists in 14 Bundesliga appearances.
He has a prolific record in this season’s Champions League group stage where he has netted four times and got one assists in six appearances.
Starting to win the plaudits from many as one of the most promising players in Europe, the 20-year-old has started to have been touted for a big money move away from Dortmund, a move made by both Sancho and Bellingham in recent years.
Sancho was prized away from Dortmund by Manchester United in the summer of 2021 for around €80 million.
Despite the deal not working out at United, after a short loan spell back with Dortmund, Sancho got a much needed move away in the summer to join Chelsea where he is seeking to get his career back on track.
Meanwhile, Bellingham is now widely recognised as one of the most gifted players on the planet following his €113million move to Real Madrid in July 2023.
Gittens looks destined for the very top if his career trajectory continues and will no doubt be linked with a whole host of Europe’s most elite clubs when the summer transfer window opens.
Despite having a fight on their hands to hold of one of their top talents, Dortmund signed Gittens up to a contract extension last year until 2028, meaning that he would command a significant transfer fee if he is to move.
An international call-up for England also looks likely to be on the horizon with German manager Thomas Tuchel taking up his position as the Three Lions new manager in the New Year.
Whatever happens in the future of the career of Gittens, its destined to be special.
