Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has expressed his concern about one aspect of Jadon Sancho's loan move after the winger joined Aston Villa on deadline day
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand discussed Jadon Sancho's deadline day move to Aston Villa
(Image: Piermarco Tacca - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand is concerned about the lack of an obligation to buy clause in Jadon Sancho’s move to Aston Villa. The winger was one of several stars to seal a move away from Old Trafford on deadline day as Ruben Amorim successfully trimmed down his United squad.
Sancho completed a season-long loan move to Villa, following Marcus Rashford’s example from last season. Rashford’s time under Unai Emery saw the 27-year-old recalled to the England squad and led to him joining Barcelona on loan this summer. Sancho will hope to enjoy similar success at Villa Park.
Sancho had been one of several players to express a desire to leave the club and was a target for Roma before agreeing to join Villa on deadline day. It marks the third loan move of Sancho’s United career, having not featured for the club since the 2024 Community Shield, but Ferdinand was surprised to learn that Sancho could still return to Old Trafford.
Discussing United’s outgoing transfers, he asked on his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube Channel: “Ain’t Sancho’s got an obligation to buy at the end of it? No? Oh, don’t like that.”
United included a £38m obligation to buy as part of Rasmus Hojlund’s move to Napoli, which also saw the club receive a £5.2m loan fee. No such obligation was negotiated as part of Sancho’s exit, with Villa agreeing to pay 80 per cent of his wages, plus achievable bonuses. However, Ferdinand defended the club’s approach to moving on wantaway players.
“I said this ages ago, if you’re going to take massive losses on these players, take them. Just to get out,” Ferdinand argued. “I don’t think you can think about the financials too much if you’re going to have them around the place and let them be a bad smell around the place. No, get rid. I don’t care.
“The squad is the most important thing. Keeping the harmony and ambience in the squad is the be-all and end-all if you’re going to make strides to be a more positive football club, where you aren’t going to have those distractions around.
Jadon Sancho playing for Manchester United
Jadon Sancho last played for Manchester United in the 2024 Community Shield
“The last thing anyone needs is Garnacho, Rashford, Sancho, Antony, etc. being around the place and having to train separately. There’s always going to be an undercurrent of a negative story hanging around the place, if they stayed. So I think it’s good for everybody that they’ve got out.”
Sancho has entered the final year of his United contract, but the club have the option to extend his deal by a further year. This means United could still recoup money for Sancho based on his performances at Villa, rather than leaving as a free agent at the end of the season.
The England international was regarded as one of the most exciting players in European football when he joined United for £72.8m from Borussia Dortmund in 2021. He failed to live up to expectations at Old Trafford, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists in 83 appearances.
Sancho returned to Dortmund on loan last January and started the 2024 Champions League final, but no permanent move materialised. Last season, the 25-year-old scored five goals and provided 10 assists in 41 games for Chelsea as Sancho helped the club finish in the top four and win the Europa Conference League. However, Chelsea opted to pay a £5m penalty after reneging on their £25m obligation to buy.
Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford
Jadon Sancho will hope to replicate Marcus Rashford's impact at Aston Villa
While it remains to be seen whether Villa will be the forward’s next permanent home, he is looking forward to working under Emery. “When I spoke to the manager he gave me belief and confidence,” Sancho told Villa’s club website.
“He showed me the plan of what they want to achieve this year and it really inspired me. He definitely persuaded me, and I can’t wait to work under him.”
Speaking about how Rashford’s experience at Villa influenced his decision, Sancho added: “I spoke to him while he was here last season and I know he really enjoyed it. He said so many lovely things about the club, like how it’s a family and you feel that friendly environment with great players and staff. I definitely felt that as I came in.”
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