Chelsea Set to Win Race for Jamie Gittens in €50m Transfer Amid Arsenal Challenge

Chelsea Close to Finalizing Jamie Gittens Signing Despite Arsenal Competition

Chelsea look set to wrap up one of the most talked-about transfers this summer, with Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens poised to join the Blues. The west London club is pushing hard to land the 20-year-old, whose reputation at Dortmund has been rising ever since he broke into the first team. This move comes just weeks after Chelsea cut ties with Jadon Sancho, scrapping an expected £25 million permanent buy by instead handing Manchester United a £5 million penalty. Sancho’s uneven form in blue left the club hunting for a more consistent attacking threat as they look to revamp their squad under Enzo Maresca.

Gittens’ transfer saga has had its fair share of drama. Arsenal were in the picture, aggressively pursuing the England U21 winger, but were ultimately left behind as Chelsea pressed ahead with their €50 million revised bid—an offer that surpassed their initial attempt by €15 million. The Gunners, meanwhile, have switched priorities, refocusing on striker options like Benjamin Sesko. Gittens, for his part, made it clear to his camp that he was leaning towards Chelsea amid signs of serious interest from Bayern Munich and discussions between the two Club World Cup participants continuing even after the main transfer window closed.

Sancho Out, Gittens In: Chelsea’s Summer Transfer Charge

Let’s not forget the context that set this all in motion. Chelsea’s move away from Jadon Sancho came after a tough season where the once-promising winger failed to deliver consistently at Stamford Bridge. By paying the clause to cancel Sancho’s deal, Chelsea opened the door for fresh faces—and Gittens’ pace and unpredictability fit the new-look attack Maresca wants to build.

Todd Boehly and his co-owners haven’t held back when it comes to splashing the cash, with Chelsea’s net transfer outlay ticking towards the highest in the Premier League yet again. The club has already spent around £100 million in this window alone, setting the tone for aggressive recruitment. Club insiders say Gittens was Maresca’s top target as soon as the Sancho deal collapsed—a player seen as direct, hardworking, and hungry to play big minutes at Stamford Bridge.

The deal has also been helped by both clubs’ involvement in the Club World Cup, allowing officials to hold multiple face-to-face talks. Gittens himself is believed to have told teammates he’s excited about the prospect of making the move, with Dortmund resigned to accepting the improved bid. Bayern’s interest raised brief concerns but never evolved into a concrete offer, cementing Chelsea’s position at the front of the queue.

While Arsenal fans might have hoped for a dramatic last-minute U-turn, the Gunners’ focus elsewhere leaves Chelsea in the clear. With the Club World Cup coming up in the U.S., the Blues are eager to show off their newest acquisition on a global stage, while proving to rivals that their transfer ambition hasn’t dimmed in the slightest.