BERLIN: Asked to sum up yet another star turn from winger Jamie Gittens on Saturday, Borussia Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin said simply “he has arrived.”
Still just 20, Gittens’ recent performances have established the Englishman as Dortmund’s most important attacking outlet.
With his trademark dance in from the left flank, dribbling past defenders, Gittens unleashed a rocket which bounced in off the crossbar to score for the fourth straight game.
In Wednesday’s home clash against a free-scoring Barcelona side who are top of the La Liga table, Gittens will be crucial as Dortmund hope to take a step closer to locking up a top-eight spot.
Gittens walked the same path as former Borussia teammate Jadon Sancho when he moved from the Manchester City academy to Dortmund.
Just four years younger than Sancho, who is now at Chelsea having returned to Dortmund for a six-month loan last season, Gittens’ progress was disrupted by a series of shoulder injuries.
This season, Gittens has played in all Dortmund’s 20 games in all competitions. He has nine goals — including four in the Champions League — and four assists.
Gittens has developed a habit of scoring incredible goals at crucial moments in what has been a challenging season for last year’s Champions League finalists.
German tabloid Bild on Sunday called him a “giant” and said “Dortmund finally have a star face again.”
According to Bild’s analysis, sixth-placed Dortmund would be in the bottom half of the table without Gittens’ contributions.
Germany’s Sport1 network on Monday had a discussion asking if “Dortmund are too dependent?” on the starlet this season.
On Saturday, Gittens was quick to deflect praise of his red-hot form.
“My teammates are always making me go harder in training,” Gittens told the Bundesliga website, adding his improvement was due to “being more confident on the pitch.”
Several current superstars, including Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Ousmane Dembele and Sancho, have emerged from the Dortmund finishing school in recent years.
Plenty are tempted to ask if Gittens is on the same path — and whether a move away is inevitable.
German media speculated on Sunday Gittens will be Dortmund’s next big-money sale.
But while Haaland, Bellingham, Dembele and Sancho always had their eyes set on a short stay, Gittens — who gives interviews in German — has repeatedly said he is comfortable in Dortmund.
After a spectacular solo goal in a 1-1 draw with rivals Bayern Munich in November, Sancho texted Gittens.
“He wrote to me. He said ‘keep it up — it’s your time to show everyone what you can do’,” Gittens said of Sancho, calling the Chelsea winger “a top player and a top friend.”
Dortmund coach Sahin, under pressure after a patchy start to the season, refused to take credit for Gittens’ development.
“The credit doesn’t belong to me, but to Jamie and (former Dortmund assistant coach) Sven Bender.”
“He’s made a huge step. His heart is in the right place and I wish him only the best.”
Like last season, when they finished fifth in the Bundesliga but reached the Champions League final, Dortmund have struggled in Germany but impressed in Europe this year.
Dortmund are fourth on the Champions League table, level on points with third-placed Barcelona.
Despite flying high in the new format, either side could fall outside the top eight with a loss, such is the traffic jam of teams below them.
Barcelona are atop the Liga table in Hansi Flick’s first season. They have, however, begun to show defensive vulnerabilities similar to those which brought Flick’s time at Bayern to an end.
If Dortmund are to challenge the five-time Champions League winners, the lightning-quick Gittens will need to play a leading role.
Dortmund celebrate red-hot Gittens’ ‘arrival’ as Barca loom
https://arab.news/be5rs
Dortmund celebrate red-hot Gittens’ ‘arrival’ as Barca loom
- Still just 20, Gittens’ recent performances have established the Englishman as Dortmund’s most important attacking outlet
- With his trademark dance in from the left flank, dribbling past defenders, Gittens unleashed a rocket which bounced in off the crossbar to score for the fourth straight game
E1 World Championship opens 2026 season in Jeddah with expanded field, growing global profile
- Season’s opener features record 10 teams
JEDDAH: The 2026 UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF will launch its new season in Jeddah, with the Red Sea city once again hosting the world’s first all-electric raceboat series, and champions Team Brady beginning their title defense against an expanded and competitive field.
Set against Jeddah’s Red Sea coastline, the season-opening E1 Jeddah GP 2026, which takes place over Jan. 23-24, will feature a record 10 teams racing the cutting-edge E1 RaceBirds, underlining the rapid growth of the championship and its ambitions as a global competition spanning four continents.
Team Brady are the outfit to beat, having claimed the Champions of the Water title in 2024 and 2025. However, competition is expected to be fiercer than ever, with several teams strengthening their lineups ahead of the new campaign.
Team Monaco and Sierra Racing Club join the championship for 2026, adding further depth to the grid with a mix of experienced and emerging pilots. Team Rafa, who finished just 11 points behind Team Brady last season after a title fight that went down to the final laps, are widely regarded as one of the leading contenders and will be aiming to make an early statement in Jeddah.
Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James also return to race on home waters, one year on from their E1 debut. Carrying local pride, the team will be looking to build on last season’s momentum in front of Saudi fans.
The world-class field is further strengthened by a roster of high-profile, celebrity-backed teams, including Will Smith’s Team Westbrook, DJ Steve Aoki’s Team Aoki, Team Drogba, led by football legend Didier Drogba and his partner Gabrielle Lemaire, and Team Miami, featuring Grammy Award-winning artist Marc Anthony.
Fans will be able to get close to the action across qualifying and race day, with on-water viewing available from the E1 Fan Zone. The area will give visitors the chance to see the E1 RaceBirds up close and will feature a gaming arena with simulator and virtual reality experiences, as well as a VOX cinema screening of “Zootopia 2.” Merchandise outlets and a range of food and beverage options will also be available, creating a family-friendly race-day experience.
Beyond the racing, E1’s return to Saudi Arabia reflects the Kingdom’s growing role in shaping the future of electric sport and sustainable mobility. The championship serves as a living laboratory for electric propulsion systems, accelerating innovation that can influence marine transport while also supporting broader conversations around ocean protection.
As part of its partnership with E1, Formula E’s Driving Force Presented by PIF E360 is hosting its educational program in Jeddah this week. The initiative aims to inspire students aged 8 to 18 to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as sustainability, through the lens of electric racing.
The program reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025 alone, with a further 50,000 targeted this year, taking its reach to over 100,000 young people worldwide.
On the sporting side, PIF’s commitment to excellence will again be recognized through the PIF Pilot of the Day award, presented after finals day to honor standout skill and performance over the race weekend.
Alejandro Agag, founder and chairman of E1, said: “Starting our 2026 season in Jeddah is a powerful statement for E1. The region represents ambition, innovation and a clear vision for the future, and the Red Sea provides the perfect environment as our largest grid yet of 10 teams begin their battle to be crowned 2026 Champions of the Water.”
The Jeddah race is set to deliver high-intensity competition, renewed rivalries and an early glimpse into the future of high-performance racing on water.
