Jamie Gittens Looks to Turn a Troubled Start into a Breakout Season at Chelsea

Chelsea’s first training session of the Australian pre-season tour drew 5,289 ticket-paying spectators at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney. When 21-year-old winger Jamie Gittens stopped to sign an autograph for a persistent young fan, the crowd responded with a loud cheer that eclipsed the usual boos heard during the session. The reaction was notable because Gittens, who joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund in July 2025 for an initial £48.5 million, had struggled for playing time in his debut campaign.

New York Times

Gittens made 27 appearances in the 2025-26 season before tearing his hamstring against West Ham United on January 31, a injury that kept him out of competitive matches thereafter, according to the New York Times. He returned to action in closed-door friendlies against Crawley Town and Bromley Town, scoring in both. In the Carabao Cup match that Chelsea won 4-3 over Wolverhampton Wanderers, Gittens contributed two assists and a long-range goal that was later voted the round’s Goal of the Round.

New York Times

Since Xabi Alonso’s appointment as Chelsea manager, Gittens says the coach has encouraged him to stay positive, work on individual improvement and push his limits. Alonso’s experience as a former world-class midfielder at Real Madrid and Liverpool is viewed by Gittens as valuable guidance, especially as the team shifts back to a 4-3-3 system that employs two wingers. Gittens believes his recent performances against Bayer Leverkusen’s back three—featuring players such as Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong—have given him insight into Alonso’s tactical expectations.

New York Times

Chelsea’s first “official” pre-season fixtures are scheduled against Western Sydney Wanderers (Tuesday) and Tottenham Hotspur (Saturday), both set for 10:45 a.m. UK time. Gittens estimates he is at 92 percent of his peak physical condition, expecting the remaining improvement to come from these warm-up games. The club, which finished 10th in the Premier League and missed European qualification last season, has signaled ambition to contend for the league title, the FA Cup and other trophies, bolstered by high-profile signings such as Morgan Rogers (£117 million). Gittens’ own goal is to stay fit, earn regular minutes and help shift the narrative of a disappointing 2025-26 campaign toward a more successful 2026-27 season.

New York Times