Revealed: Why Borussia Dortmund’s newest English superstar Jamie Gittens decided to abandon half his surname for the 2024-25 season

It seems Borussia Dortmund have a knack for acquiring English youngsters and turning them into world-class players.

First was Jadon Sancho, followed by Jude Bellingham and now the iconic yellow wall have found a new English talent to worship.

20-year-old Jamie Gittens had his name lit in lights following the German outfits opening Champions League clash against Bruges, where the English stiker netted twice in their 3-0 victory.

Gittens has had a stellar start to the 2024-25 season with Nuri Sahin’s side. The Englishman’s brace during the week was his second already for the season.

Fans who have been following the youngster for a while now will have noticed that he is rocking a new name on the back of his kit, having cut his name in half.

The 20-year-old sensation decided to scrap half of his surname per his family’s request 

Gittens first name is Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and up until this year the 20-year-old had Bynoe-Gittens printed onto the pack of his jersey.

Gittens revealed the reasoning for abandoning Bynoe and deciding to go with just Gittens instead to Dortmund’s official website.

He explained he cut his surname in half per his father’s requests. 

‘Both are my father’s names, but he said he thinks it’s better if I’m just called Gittens because it’s shorter. 

‘Most people know him as Gittens, so in the future, I’ll only wear Gittens’ he told Dortmund’s official website. 

‘The shorter the better’ he told German outlet Bild as well. 

Since turning professional in 2020, the English striker went by Bynoe-Gittens

However he changed it to just Gittens ahead of the 2024-25 season because of his father

Bynoe-Gittens now has four goals in five games this season and people feel he could chart a similar path to Jude Bellingham.

The 20-year-old has even been hailed as ‘England’s next superstar’ by Get German Football News thanks to his stunning form.

Bynoe-Gittens was reared in the academy of Reading, like Michael Olise, but was picked by Manchester City in 2018 before Dortmund came calling.

Injury initially kept him out of action but he made his Bundesliga debut in April 2022, scoring his first goal a few months later, and has become a regular in the team.

He has played as high as the England under-21s and won the under-19s Euros in 2022, starting in the final in a 3-1 victory over Israel.