Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovač reportedly dissuaded Bayern Munich from pursuing Jamie Gittens last summer, a decision that ultimately led the Bavarian club to sign Luis Díaz and saw Gittens move to Chelsea. According to Sport BILD, Bayern initially targeted Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, but the Spanish international opted to remain with his current club and extend his contract.
Following Williams’ decision, Bayern shifted their focus to Gittens, the young English winger at Borussia Dortmund. However, internal doubts within Bayern’s supervisory board, including prominent figures Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, prompted the club to seek an external assessment of the player’s suitability. A club employee then contacted Kovač for his honest opinion.
Kovač is said to have delivered a blunt assessment, reportedly stating that Gittens was “not professional enough” to thrive in the demanding environment at Bayern Munich. This negative appraisal effectively ended Bayern’s interest in the player, and they quickly redirected their efforts towards securing the signature of Díaz from Porto.
Gittens, who has shown flashes of potential during his time at Dortmund, ultimately completed a permanent transfer to Chelsea. He joined the German club’s youth setup in 2020, progressing through the ranks before becoming a member of the first team. The winger has made 56 appearances for Dortmund across all competitions, scoring seven goals and providing eight assists.
The decision to bypass Gittens and pursue Díaz proved successful for Bayern, as the Colombian international has become a key player in their attack. Díaz has contributed significantly with his pace, dribbling ability, and goal-scoring threat, establishing himself as a fan favorite at the Allianz Arena. The transfer saga highlights the influence coaches can have on recruitment decisions, and the importance of character assessment alongside technical ability.
