Chelsea Prodigy Gittens Fails to Emulate Sancho's Dortmund Heroics

In November 2025, Chelsea's 21-year-old prospect Jamie Gittens finds himself in a familiar position – playing second fiddle to a rising star, just as Jadon Sancho did at Borussia Dortmund. Gittens, once touted as the "next Jadon Sancho," has failed to live up to the hype at Stamford Bridge.

Gittens joined Chelsea in a £55m transfer this summer, but has struggled to cement a starting spot under manager Enzo Maresca. He has played almost 100 minutes fewer than Alejandro Garnacho in the Premier League, despite the Argentine not making his debut until mid-September. To add insult to injury, Garnacho was not even fully fit when he arrived in London, having been frozen out by his former club.

Gittens' struggles are in stark contrast to his early promise. The young Englishman broke a 23-year record by becoming the youngest player to score against Real Madrid in the Champions League last October. However, he has not played a full 90 minutes since January and only featured for 13 minutes at the Club World Cup prior to his move to Chelsea.

Analysts have questioned whether Chelsea truly needed Gittens, with European football broadcaster Andy Brassell rating his start at the club as just 5/10. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also criticized the transfer, saying it was not an upgrade on Noni Madueke, who was sold to Arsenal.

As Gittens continues to search for his form, the comparisons to Sancho's own journey will only grow stronger. Like the Manchester United winger, Gittens must now prove he can overcome the challenges and fulfill his immense potential.