Jadon Sancho was once considered one of Europe's brightest prospects, but his stock has plummeted since joining Manchester United - and so too has his transfer value
09:00, 13 Sep 2025
Jadon Sancho in training
Jadon Sancho is now worth a fraction of what he was as a 19-year-old(Image: PA)
Jadon Sancho's market value has nosedived since his move to Manchester United.
The 25-year-old, who recently secured a deadline day loan switch to Aston Villa, was once hailed as one of the brightest sparks in European football. This glowing reputation convinced United to fork out a whopping £73million to snatch him from Borussia Dortmund back in 2021.
At that point, the hefty price tag - one of the largest in English football history - seemed justified. Just a year prior, Transfermarkt had pegged Sancho, then only 19, at a staggering £113m. But his star soon started to fade.
Fast forward to today, and he's estimated to be worth a mere £24m - a jaw-dropping £89m plunge in just five years. A lacklustre spell at Old Trafford is largely to blame, with Sancho struggling to find form, confidence and the back of the net.
He managed to net a paltry five goals across all competitions in his first season with the Reds - a far cry from the 16 and 20 he racked up in his last two seasons in Germany. A revolving door of managers didn't help matters, nor did the unexpected return of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the coach who brought Sancho to Old Trafford, was given the boot before Christmas, while Ronaldo's comeback prompted a reshuffle upfront that saw Marcus Rashford shifted to the left and Sancho awkwardly crammed into an unfamiliar position on the right.
Jude Bellingham (L) and Jadon Sancho (R)
Jadon Sancho, like Jude Bellingham, exploded onto the scene at Dortmund(Image: Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images)
Things briefly looked up under Erik ten Hag. Sancho wrapped up the 2022/23 season with six Premier League goals and a more pivotal role in the starting XI. But it all came crashing down at the start of the next campaign.
In September 2023, Sancho was left out of the squad for the match against Arsenal, with Ten Hag openly questioning his efforts in training. Sancho clapped back on social media, claiming his manager was being dishonest and that he'd been unfairly targeted as the team's "scapegoat."
What followed was an icy four-month standoff. Sancho was demoted to train with the reserves but managed to secure a loan move back to his old stomping ground, Dortmund. By then, however, his market value had drastically dipped to a meagre £22m - a low not seen since his breakout season in 2017/18.
Jadon Sancho didn't appear to be in Erik ten Hag's plans
Sancho's falling out with Ten Hag completely derailed his Old Trafford career(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
But in the Bundesliga, Sancho started to regain some of his shine, hinting at the player United had thought they were signing. During his 21 appearances, he scored three goals and set up three more.
He played a significant role in Dortmund's thrilling run to the Champions League final, where they ultimately came up short against the might of Real Madrid. This brief stint not only helped Sancho regain some confidence but temporarily propped up his market value, offering a beacon of hope amidst the turbulence.
Yet, this renewed optimism was fleeting, as Sancho's loan stint at Chelsea in 2024/25 devolved into more of the same frustrations. With an obligatory £25m buy-clause hanging in the balance, he struggled to find a rhythm within Chelsea's crowded attacking line-up under Enzo Maresca's watch.
Sancho in action for Chelsea
Jadon Sancho's spell at Chelsea was underwhelming(Image: Getty Images)
Throughout the season, Sancho managed to net only three league goals, a far cry from his dazzling Bundesliga days. Chelsea, disappointed with his performance, chose to cough up a £5m termination fee rather than seal the permanent deal.
Now setting off on his third loan stint in a row, this time at Aston Villa, Sancho's market value is stuck around £24m - barely a third of what United shelled out four years ago. The Red Devils are still footing part of his wage bill, hoping that a successful run at Villa Park could either pave the way for a full departure or reignite the possibility of a return to the fold.
Regardless, Sancho's journey serves as a stark warning about unmet potential in today's football world, where hype and hefty price tags can buckle under strain. But talent like his doesn't just disappear - it lies dormant, ready for the right spark to ignite it.
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Maybe at Villa, under the watchful eye of Unai Emery, Sancho can finally put the brakes on his slide, boost his worth, and remind everyone why he was once touted as one of Europe's shining stars.
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