Manchester United invested a small fortune in Jadon Sancho in the summer of 2021, but it is safe to say that the player has not lived up to expectations at the Theatre of Dreams.
The Englishman’s world-class performances at Borussia Dortmund convinced the Red Devils to secure his signature in a reported £73 million deal.
Unfortunately, Sancho has been a shadow of his former self at Old Trafford, while his time with the Premier League giants has also been marred by controversy.
Sancho’s Old Trafford woes
Sancho was in and out of the starting XI under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag, before becoming embroiled in a controversy with the Dutch manager. The Englishman’s public response to Ten Hag’s criticism saw him banished from the first team squad at the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
The player returned to Borussia Dortmund in January 2024 on a temporary deal, before moving to Chelsea on a season-long loan later that summer. The Blues had an obligation to buy Sancho permanently at the end of last season, but paid a small fee to nullify that clause.
Meanwhile, United revamped their attack over the summer, and with the 25 year old no longer part of Ruben Amorim’s plans, he moved to Aston Villa on loan. Unfortunately, Sancho has struggled at Villa Park so far, making 13 appearances across competitions, five of which have been starts.
Jadon Sancho Stats: 2025/26 Season
Competition Appearances Goals Assists Yellow Cards Red Cards Minutes Played
Premier League 7 - - - - 127'
UEFA Europa League 5 - - - - 328'
EFL Cup 1 - - - - 74'
Total 13 - - - - 529'
Source: Transfermarkt.
The player’s form has prompted talk of a possible termination of the loan deal, with a recent report relayed by The Peoples Person stating that Fenerbahce are ready to prise him away in January. Villa manager Unai Emery has now offered his thoughts on the player’s future.
Unai Emery counting on Sancho
Speaking to the press, as cited by the Birmingham Mail, Emery insisted that he is counting on Sancho for the second half of the season. He said: “Jadon is still being young. He has had an amazing career and is now in a moment where he needs help to recover his best performance.”
“I have this challenge with him. He has this challenge with me as well. Of course, he is not playing all the minutes I think he has to. But in the second part of the season, I believe in him. He is really being demanding himself to try to get his best moment this season with us.”
“Of course, on Sunday we are finishing December and then starting January soon. The first match back he will play is against Chelsea. He has that challenge with me and himself, and with the club as well. I believe in him and hopefully we can get it.”
United face Villa on Sunday, 21 December at Old Trafford, but Sancho is ineligible to face his parent club.
Final Thoughts
Sancho’s contract expires at the end of this season, and it looks unlikely that United will hand him a new deal.
According to reports, Dortmund could consider a return for their prodigal son if he is available on a free transfer next summer, so the Englishman is unlikely to be short of options. The Red Devils, meanwhile, will be determined to end this saga once and for all in 2026.
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