Jadon Sancho is heading back to Manchester United after Chelsea decided against making his loan move permanent.
Manchester United supporters briefly thought they had seen the last of Jadon Sancho after a season-long loan to Chelsea was finalised last summer.
The deal included a £25 million obligation to buy, but it was later reported that Chelsea had the option to pay a £5m penalty fee instead of completing the transfer.
Following an underwhelming campaign for Sancho at Stamford Bridge, the Blues have chosen to exercise that option and send him back to United.
Why Jadon Sancho’s move to Chelsea broke down
Just hours after Sancho played in the Europa Conference League final, Chelsea opened talks over a permanent move.
However, Graeme Bailey has learned that negotiations collapsed because of Sancho’s unwillingness to accept the club’s proposed wage cut.
Sancho is on £325,000 per week, and Chelsea reportedly asked him to reduce his salary by nearly 50 per cent.
While the £25 million buy clause was seen as reasonable by Chelsea, they were not prepared to also meet Sancho’s current salary demands. United chose not to cover any part of the deal, having already paid a heavy price for the original £73 million move.
Sancho will now head back to United and looks set to seek a new club during the summer window.
Where Jadon Sancho could move this summer after Chelsea exit
After his very public fallout with Erik ten Hag, it’s unlikely Sancho has any sort of future back at Old Trafford.
His recent comments, which criticised the club’s culture, only further damaged his reputation among fans.
United will now focus on finding a permanent exit for Sancho during the summer transfer window.
Bayer Leverkusen were linked with Sancho earlier this year, though that move looks less likely now that Ten Hag is in charge there.
There’s also been talk of a return to Borussia Dortmund, where he played before joining United and also had a short loan stint in 2024.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
