Which Jersey Number Will Jamie Gittens Choose if He Joins Chelsea?
Securing a right-footed winger was considered among Chelsea's most urgent needs as they entered the summer transfer market, and the Blues have chosen to invest in the promising talent of Jamie Gittens.
The Borussia Dortmund prospect had his breakthrough season in the Bundesliga during the previous campaign, shining under Nuri Sahin's guidance while the squad struggled collectively. Niko Kovač showed less inclination to give the 20-year-old freedom to flourish following his mid-season appointment, resulting in fewer starting opportunities for Gittens toward the end of that season.
The winger possesses the dynamic qualities of a future star and will be anticipated to make an immediate impact in west London, with the Blues allegedly investing an upfront fee of £48.5 million ($66.2 million) plus an additional £3.5 million ($4.8 million) in performance-related bonuses to secure the winger's services at Stamford Bridge.
While Gittens may not be the complete player yet, he represents a name that younger fans especially might be eager to see printed on their stylish new jerseys for the 2025–26 season. But which number might the English talent sport at his new club?
Jamie Gittens Shirt Number History
Gittens's only professional football experience to date has been with Borussia Dortmund, where he sported the No. 43 jersey. There wasn't any particular significance behind his choice of this uncommon number in Germany. It was merely the shirt allocated to him by the club.
During his time with Dortmund's youth squads (U19s), Gittens wore the more conventional No. 7, and he potentially could have inherited this number from Giovanni Reyna, who has found it difficult to reach his potential since emerging at Signal Iduna Park. The USMNT player has held Dortmund's No. 7 since 2021.
Prior to his transfer to the Bundesliga, Gittens alternated between Nos. 15 and 16 while playing for Manchester City's U18s. Representing England U19s, the winger donned No. 18 before switching to No. 21 for the U21s.
Chelsea Available Shirt Numbers
Chelsea's extensive roster means limited shirt number options exist for Gittens, though the new signing could maintain the No. 43 that brought him success at Dortmund. The Blues currently have Nos 44 and 45 occupied by Gaga Slonina and Romeo Lavia, respectively, but No. 43 remains unassigned.
Young goalkeeper Ted Curd was given No. 43 for the 2024–25 season, while former academy products Fikayo Tomori and Ryan Bertrand have previously worn this number in west London.
Should Gittens desire a different number, options include Nos 13, 26, 31 and 33. The No. 19 previously worn by Jadon Sancho has been allocated to Mamadou Sarr for the Club World Cup.