In some ways Jamie Gittens’ life has changed out of all recognition since he left Manchester City for Borussia Dortmund at the age of just 16.
In others, though, it has barely altered at all.
“Watching him play was always like watching a highlights reel on YouTube,” laughs Rhys Denton, who worked with the latest English prodigy to emerge at Die Schwarzgelben during his time in the youth ranks at Reading.
“He always had phenomenal feet, and he was always a kid who would put in the extra work.
“What you’re seeing now is exactly what we saw at Bearwood Park [Reading’s training ground].”
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The precocious 20-year-old winger scored his fourth goal in just five Champions League matches against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday night.
His latest strike was potentially the best of the lot, some call given the quality of the others.
With four minutes to go in the first half, Gittens picked up the ball just inside the Zagreb half, ran at a terrified defence before unleashing a crisp shot that curled elegantly into the top corner.
Europe drooled.
Dortmund’s scouting network, meanwhile, would have been toasting another steal from Manchester City who could soon be worth a sum that puts Jadon Sancho’s £73m transfer to Manchester United firmly in the shade.
“He’s in good hands,” says Gary Gordon, the former Dortmund academy coach and a man who knows the German giants as well as anyone.
“I worked with Nuri Sahin [Dortmund’s current manager] when he was coming through the youth ranks at the club – he knows what the club is about, he knows how important it is to nurture young players like Jamie.
“He also knows that he needs to make the most of him because these kinds of players don’t hang around for long. It won’t be long before he follows Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham out of the door.
“But he’s definitely at the right club. And at the right time too.”
The Borussia Dortmund winger moved to Germany four years ago (Photo: Getty)
Gittens, who was born in Reading, began his career at Caversham Trents, the Berkshire club that also boasts Fran Kirby among its alumni.
He also played alongside another prodigiously talented player in Michael Olise during his time at Reading before leaving the club to join Manchester City at the age of 14.
His period with Reading did, though, coincide with a revolutionary change of approach to the way young players were coached.
Under the watchful eye of Lewis Goater, then the Berkshire club’s head of coaching in the foundation phase, a role he now holds at Arsenal, Gittens benefitted hugely from an emphasis on one-on-one skills.
“It was all about me and my ball,” Denton says.
“We wanted the players to focus on their dribbling, getting round the defender. The way he was brought up in the Reading system, there was a real focus on what you can do with the ball when you’re in possession, how you can be successful with the ball at your feet.
“And when you haven’t got the ball, how you can work hard to win it back and start dominating.”
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Reading’s approach at the time mirrored the FA’s desire to create a DNA for the modern footballer.
In many ways, Gittens, Bellingham and Sancho are the embodiment of that – all schooled in England before graduating with honours at the Signal Iduna Park.
“They’ve had a great grounding, all of them,” Gordon says.
“Then they come to Dortmund and get the chance of regular first-team football when back home they would be playing for the reserves or the Under-23s.
“Dortmund is the perfect place for them to develop because if you’re good enough you’re going to get the opportunities. And Jamie is definitely good enough – the crowd here absolutely love him.”
And what’s not to enjoy? In an entertainment business, Gittens tearing at defences – both in the Bundesliga and the Champions League – is currently one of European football’s most exhilarating sights.
“There are a lot of wingers who will get the ball and it’s their role to keep the ball in possession or cut inside,” Denton says.
“When you see Jamie you know he’s going to drive at players, you know he’s going to commit, you know he’s going to win his one-on-ones.
“You expect there to be a shot on goal or an end product whenever he has the ball.”
On his debut for the club in a friendly in Switzerland against Athletic Bilbao back in July 2021, Gittens had a shocker. He injured ankle ligaments within minutes of coming on as a substitute in a clumsy challenge that kept him out of first-team contention for the next four months.
On his return to fitness, he scored six goals in five Uefa Youth League matches and by August 2022, he was making his Bundesliga bow. He hasn’t looked back since.
Feted in Dortmund, the former Royal is looking an increasingly regal presence.