Jude Bellingham reacts to Jamie Gittens’ emotional message after Chelsea move
Jude Bellingham has reacted to a new heartfelt post by Jamie Gittens after he left Borussia Dortmund to join Chelsea.
Chelsea are looking to be active in the transfer market ahead of their return to the Champions League, with Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Dario Essugo all already signed for sizeable fees this summer.
Enzo Maresca has still continued to look to bolster his attacking depth, with Dortmund wide man Gittens linked to the Blues after a fruitful season with the Bundesliga giants.
Former scout Mick Brown first told Football Insider in January that Chelsea were keen on a move for Gittens, who played for the Blues’ academy as a youngster, and they moved that interest forward with numerous bids for his services over the last few weeks.
Chelsea initially had a £42million bid for Gittens rejected in early June, but their bid of £55m for his services was recently accepted by Borussia Dortmund [BBC] and a return to Stamford Bridge has now been confirmed while Noni Madueke closes in on a move to Arsenal.
Gittens issues emotional Dortmund exit message after Chelsea move
Chelsea announced Gittens’ arrival on Saturday, 5 July, with an Instagram post that read: “Our newest Blue is here…” along with a video of him in his new colours.
Gittens joined Dortmund as a 16-year-old in 2020, and he progressed through their youth ranks to play for the senior side 107 times prior to his exit, so was understandably emotional as he penned a message to the German side’s supporters on Instagram, saying: “After five amazing years, it’s time for me to move on and begin a new chapter in my career.
“I arrived at BVB as a 16-year-old, and from day one, the club believed in me and gave me the space to develop as a player and as a person.
“I’ve learned so much during my time here, and I’ll always be thankful for that. Wishing you all nothing but success for the future. Dortmund will always be home!”
Gittens’ post was reacted to by Jude Bellingham, Jeremie Frimpong, Ian Maatsen, Jobe Bellingham, Carney Chukwuemeka and Serhou Guirassy, as all left a like in response to his message.
Signing Gittens and selling Madueke is a futile move from Chelsea
Football Insider verdict
Chelsea’s spending has reached astronomical heights in recent years, and their plight for success under the ownership of Todd Boehly has seen numerous players and managers come and go in the last few seasons.
They look to finally be going in the right direction as it stands under head-coach Maresca, and he has a lot of players at his disposal right now as he aims to find the best starting eleven and squad to set them up for continued success.
Gittens is a bright young player, but whether he will become a leading figure in Chelsea’s quest to compete for top prizes is unclear, especially since he has not always been a starter for Dortmund since his breakthrough in 2022.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 107 | 17 | 14 |
Madueke looks set to leave Chelsea soon after agreeing personal terms with Arsenal [The Athletic], but selling him and replacing him with Gittens does feel like a futile move, given their similar ages, playing styles, and attacking output at their respective clubs over the last few years.
The 20-year-old is not definitely better than his compatriot, and is younger and has less experience of Premier League football, so Chelsea will have to hope that they are not making a mistake with this move, especially as they are bolstering a direct rival.