Chelsea blamed for Jamie Gittens’ failed move to Premier League

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl has point fingers at Chelsea executives after the Blues failed to land winger Jamie Gittens ahead of the first summer transfer deadline.

Gittens has been linked with a move to Chelsea ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup but both teams failed to reach an agreement. It was reported on Tuesday that Gittens sped away from Borussia Dortmund’s Hohenbuschei training ground after being denied the move.

Chelsea needed to have completed a deal by the 7pm deadline in order to register Gittens for the expanded competition in the United States.

Gittens, who has now been named in Dortmund’s Club World Cup squad, hopes Chelsea rekindle talks in the summer window and that the Bundesliga club lower their £55m demands.

Speaking following the collapse of the deal, Kehl stressed that both clubs having differing valuations for the winger and highlighted the lateness of Chelsea’s offer.

Jamie Gittens joined Borussia Dortmund from Man City in 2020. (Photo by GSI/Icon Sport via Getty Images)

‘In the end, we didn’t come to an agreement on Jamie because we have different ideas about the player’s current value,’ Kehl told reporters.

But the talks were very, very respectful. We have been in very good dialogue with Chelsea for many years.

‘And yet we have a different point of view and are happy that Jamie will now be part of our team at the Club World Cup and are delighted that he is staying.

‘I’m not responsible for the late offer. But of course I still have to deal with it and that’s what we’ve done.

‘Let’s see how things develop in the future.’

Gittens was one of 25 players named in Dortmund’s squad for the Club World Cup, with their selection also including their new £32million signing Jobe Bellingham.

Dortmund are set to face Brazilian side Fluminense, South Korea’s Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa in the group stages of the tournament.