Borussia Dortmund sign Manchester City teenager Jamie Bynoe-Gittens
Borussia Dortmund have announced the signing of highly rated England youth player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens from Manchester City.
Bynoe-Gittens, who celebrated his 16th birthday in August, has signed a long-term contract and will initially link up with the Dortmund U19s.
"Jamie Bynoe-Gittens is now with us and we're pleased that he has joined our youth department," Zorc told a press conference on Thursday. "He will initially play with the U19's. Our scouting department did an excellent job!
"He's a highly talented offensive player, but he should develop patiently with us in the junior division. We don't want expectations to be too high right from the start."
Bynoe-Gittens played twice for Man City in the U18s Premier League in 2019/20, registering a debut assist. Like Jadon Sancho before him, the pacy winger reportedly turned down City's contract offer in favour of a move to Dortmund.
Sancho made the switch to the Signal Iduna Park at 17, having not played a single minute of senior football for Pep Guardiola's side, and has since developed into one of the world's finest young players.
Bynoe-Gittens - capped by England at U15 and 16s level - says he is hoping to emulate his acclaimed countryman at BVB.
Watch: Jadon Sancho's tactical evolution at Dortmund
"I'm going to try and make a name for myself. When Sancho was at City, he was doing bits in the 18s, scoring every game, so in a way, I want to be like him. You’ve got to take stuff from other people to make the best version of yourself. You’ve now got to score and assist to be the best."
Although Dortmund have no plans to rush Bynoe-Gittens into first-team action, a recent rule change on the minimum age for Bundesliga players means he is already eligible to feature in the German top flight. Previously, the youngster would have been prevented from doing do until he turned 17.
He is the third Englishman on the Dortmund books, after England U21 midfielder Jude Bellingham joined Sancho at the Ruhr district club in summer 2020.
Related news
Matchday 11 probable teams
Manuel Neuer’s involvement for Bayern against Augsburg on Friday night is in slight doubt, with Sven Ulreich also unavailable in goal.
Germany to face Italy in quarter-finals
Germany have reached the quarter-finals of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League after topping Group A3 and Julian Nagelsmann’s men now face Italy for a place in next June’s finals tournament.
Who is Paul Wanner?
A Bundesliga debutant with Bayern at 16, the Germany youth international is spending 2024/25 on loan at Heidenheim...