Sancho’s Chelsea Stint Ends in U-Turn as United Face Summer Exit Puzzle

Jadon Sancho’s turbulent journey in English football has taken another dramatic twist. After a controversial loan spell at Chelsea, the 25-year-old winger is set to return to Manchester United at the end of June despite playing a key role in Chelsea’s historic European double this past May.

Sancho had been loaned to Chelsea following a high-profile falling out with United boss Erik ten Hag. His departure from Old Trafford came amid public tensions, with his “freedom” comment on social media marking a clear break from the club. Many believed his time in Manchester was over for good.

As part of the loan deal, Chelsea had an obligatory £25 million buy clause—but with a catch. They could reverse the move for a £5 million penalty, which, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, they have now opted to pay after failing to agree new personal terms with the player. Sancho’s weekly wage of £325,000 reportedly became the sticking point, with the winger unwilling to take a pay cut.

Sancho will now return to United with just one year left on his contract, although the club retains an option to extend it by a further season. His hefty salary, however, makes finding a new home for the winger a top priority for INEOS, United’s football operations group.

While Sancho delivered on the pitch—helping Chelsea clinch the UEFA Champions League on May 25 and the UEFA Europa Conference League just three days later—his future lies elsewhere. A permanent stay in West London was always going to be difficult without wage compromise.

Bayer Leverkusen had previously shown interest, but with Ten Hag still in charge, a reunion with the Bundesliga side is reportedly off the table. Sancho’s current contract situation also weakens United’s leverage in the market, as clubs may prefer to wait a year and sign him for free.

Football finance expert Adam Williams told United in Focus that terminating Sancho’s contract is possible but financially painful, given his wage packet and remaining contract terms. “It’s an expensive move. Unless a club agrees to absorb a good chunk of his wages, the only other option might be a severance package,” Williams noted.

What is clear, however, is that Sancho’s return to Old Trafford won’t be for the long term. His fractured relationship with Ten Hag, and now his unwilling return, has left little room for reconciliation. Sources close to the club suggest new head coach Ruben Amorim, if appointed, would prefer to keep Sancho away from the first-team environment during pre-season.

United are expected to seek around £25 million for Sancho matching what they offered to Chelsea but with few clubs likely to take on his full salary, negotiations could drag deep into the summer.

For now, Sancho’s second chance in Manchester appears to be nothing more than a brief stopover before his next move in a career that has been anything but predictable.