Chelsea decide against permanent deal for Sancho
What next for Jadon Sancho?
Chelsea have decided against signing Jadon Sancho on a permanent deal, choosing instead to pay a £5 million penalty to send the winger back to Manchester United.
Author | Lauren W

Sancho joined Chelsea on loan last summer following a breakdown in his relationship with then-United manager Erik ten Hag.
Although the 25-year-old had shown flashes of form, the Blues and the player’s representatives failed to agree terms over a long-term contract, with Sancho expected to take a pay cut from his current £300,000-a-week deal at Old Trafford.
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Chelsea had not paid a loan fee for the England international and had only covered half of his wages during the season. The loan agreement included a clause obliging Chelsea to buy Sancho for around £25 million if they finished above 14th in the Premier League. Having comfortably achieved that, the club will now instead pay to withdraw from the arrangement.

Manchester United, who signed Sancho from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 for £73 million, are open to his departure. Sancho has one year remaining on his United contract, with the club still owing Dortmund a reported £17 million.
The winger ended the campaign with five goals and 10 assists in 42 appearances for Chelsea, including a strike in the 4-1 victory over Real Betis that secured the UEFA Conference League, the club’s first silverware since February 2022. Despite remaining under contract at Stamford Bridge until 30 June, Sancho is not expected to feature in this month’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.