Bundesliga
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens tipped for first-team role at Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund's Sebastian Kehl and Lars Ricken have tipped English teenager Jamie Bynoe-Gittens to compete for a first-team place next season after a series of impressive UEFA Youth League performances in 2021/22.
The Londoner has hit six goals in just four European outings for Dortmund's U19s this term, including a double against Manchester United in their last-16 tie this week that BVB's youngsters eventually won on penalties thanks to Bynoe-Gittens' spot-kick.
Bynoe-Gittens took the same path as Jadon Sancho by making the move from Manchester City to Dortmund in 2017.
He now looks set to follow the trajectory of Sancho and compatriot Jude Bellingham by making the step up to Dortmund's senior team and is expected to do so next season.
“To compete in a high-profile competition, you need players of his quality," said former Dortmund midfielder and current academy manager Ricken. "We know Marco Rose has him on his radar. I don’t expect him to play for the U19s next year.”
Ex-Dortmund captain and three-time Bundesliga winner Sebastian Kehl, who moves into the club's sporting director role at the end of the current campaign, was even more certain that Bynoe-Gittens will be a first team player as of 2022/23.
Kehl told media after Bynoe-Gittens' star turn against United: “Jamie’s development has been really good. Of course, he plays a role in our first-team plans for next season.”
Watch: Growing Up: Borussia Dortmund
Bynoe-Gittens is still waiting to make his Bundesliga debut, but there is plenty of time for that to change - whether this term or next.
Until then, Bynoe-Gittens and his fellow prospects at the Hohenbuschei have plenty to focus the mind, with Spanish counterparts Atletico Madrid up next in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Youth League as Dortmund aim to become the first German side to win the competition.