Dortmund improved considerably as a collective following the appointment of Niko Kovač, who adopted a system that reduced the need for a touchline winger of Gittens’ ilk. Width was instead supplied from wing-backs, while speedster Karim Adeyemi performed a more prominent role in Kovač’s attack.

LONDON — Chelsea is expected to sign English winger Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, the German club said Thursday. Gittens follows in the footsteps of Jadon Sancho, another former Manchester City youth player who developed his game at Dortmund. Sancho spent last season on loan at Chelsea from Manchester United.

On the eve of their Club World Cup semi-final showdown with Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund have confirmed the high-profile sale of English winger Jamie Gittens to Chelsea for €55 million.The