Chelsea & Arsenal alerted as Borussia Dortmund winger asks to leave club

Jamie Gittens, who has been regularly linked with a big-money move to Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool or Manchester United, is pushing to leave Borussia Dortmund, credible reports in Germany state.

The 20-year-old enjoyed a blistering start to the 2024/25 season, capturing the attention of Europe's elite with a string of top drawer performances.

But Gittens' momentum has stalled under the management of Niko Kovac – the Croatian was appointed to replace the sacked Nuri Sahin in January – and Dortmund are struggling themselves despite reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Currently eighth in the Bundesliga, Dortmund have lost seven of the 13 league games they have played in 2025 and are almost certain to miss out on a seat at Europe's top table next season – unless they can overcome Barcelona in their two-legged last-eight tie before going on to win the Champions League.

Sky Germany report that Gittens is planning the next chapter of his career, which has seen the talented winger inform Dortmund of his desire to leave. Once valued at around €100m (£83m), it's claimed he'll be available for significantly less in the summer.

It was recently revealed that Gittens' contract contains a release clause, which becomes active this summer, but the value has not been publicly disclosed.

Dortmund's willingness to sell stems from the potential loss of earnings they will encounter by failing to qualify for next season's Champions League – a financial burden that has often seen other clubs forced to sell their prized assets.

Bayern Munich, who have a tendency to poach Dortmund's best players, are also said to be monitoring Gittens' situation, though it's not guaranteed that the former Reading and Manchester City academy star will move at all.

Gittens' chances of switching clubs will be greatly increased if he's able to force his way back into Dortmund's starting lineup, giving Chelsea and Arsenal, the two teams most heavily linked with a move, further opportunity to scout his talents.

Chelsea in particular may be persuaded to move for Gittens, thanks to uncertainty over the futures of Mykhailo Mudryk – the Ukrainian is provisionally suspended from football for failing a drugs test – and Jadon Sancho, who the club may bizarrely pay not to sign permanently from Manchester United.

The Blues do need to focus on signing a central striking, however, as do Arsenal – something Gittens, a pacy 5'9" winger who can operate on both flanks, is not able to help with.

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