Jamie Gittens is the latest Chelsea winger to have found himself marginalised under Xabi Alonso and is yet to play a single minute of Premier League football this season. The 22-year-old was again an unused substitute during the 3-0 defeat against Brentford, adding to a deeply frustrating start to his second campaign at Stamford Bridge.
The marginalisation is all the more conspicuous as Roma were interested in the English winger during the summer transfer window. However, on August 30, it was reported that Gittens would remain in West London as part of Alonso’s plans.
That decision deserves scrutiny, as a temporary move might have offered the regular football for his development. Opportunities to play have been conspicuously scarce, aside from a substitute appearance against League One side Luton Town in the Carabao Cup. He also started the cup game against Leeds, but was subbed off at half-time.
Gittens moved to the Blues from Borussia Dortmund in 2025 in a deal initially worth £48.5m, with a further £3.5m in potential add-ons. But his first campaign proved disappointing, with just one goal and five assists in 27 outings before a hamstring injury sustained against West Ham ended his season in February.
And the club-record £117m arrival of Morgan Rogers has further congested the left-sided attacking berths, pushing Gittens significantly down the pecking order. He finds himself in a similar situation to Estevao, who has also been restricted to brief cameos in Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 formation.
Gittens has been called up for England Under-21s during the international break, so he has a good chance of finding his rhythm again. Chelsea are back in Premier League action when Bournemouth visit Stamford Bridge on October 10.
Jamie Gittens Praises Xabi Alonso’s Hands-On Style at Chelsea
It is against his own comments that Gittens’ current ostracism seems particularly concerning, given the glowing praise he lavished on Alonso in Chelsea’s pre-season preparations. The winger enjoyed a good summer, netting against Western Sydney Wanderers and then setting up a goal against Tottenham Hotspur.
Gittens said about Alonso:
“He’s been very hands-on with me, especially. He’s been very – how would I call it – positive towards me. He’s a great coach and a great guy to be around. For him to be giving me advice in these games and training sessions is the best thing for me and for the team as well, especially.”
Such comments had a genuine air of optimism that a renaissance was on the cards after his injury-stricken first season. Instead, that harmonious preseason chemistry has not translated into meaningful competitive minutes through the opening weeks.
Gittens said in July that he was staying and fighting for his place. Now he’s got to produce performances good enough to convince Alonso otherwise.