June 3 – Manchester United’s want-away winger Jadon Sancho has found himself back at the club after Chelsea baulked at turning his loan into an acquisition and instead paid the £5 million penalty clause not to take him.
Sancho was signed by Man Utd from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 for £73 million when he was aged 21, returning to England off the back of a standout Bundesliga season that saw him score 17 goals and contribute 16 assists.
His return to Manchester (he had been in Man City’s academy as a youth player) was nothing short of a personal disaster, culminating in a very public fall out with manager Erik Ten Hag.
After two loan spells, including a return to Dortmund where he recovered some of his form, he was sent on loan to Chelsea in August last year.
Sancho played 42 games last season, scoring five goals and providing 10 assists. He also scored in the UEFA Conference League final win against Real Betis. It was a good finish in a patchy season for Sancho.
Chelsea didn’t pay a loan fee for Sancho but instead paid half his reported weekly wage of £300,000. The agreement also had an obligation cause that if Chelsea finished higher that 14th in the Premier League then they would buy him for £25 million, or pay a £5 million penalty to exit the deal.
Chelsea chose to exit the deal with Sancho now returned to Manchester United who want to rebuild their squad again but need to sell players to be able to do that. Sancho has always been seen as a heavy weight to carry if he isn’t on form.
He would be wise not to unpack.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1749169599labto1749169599ofdlr1749169599owedi1749169599sni@n1749169599osloh1749169599cin.l1749169599uap1749169599