"I'm happy to be back" - Jadon Sancho shares first thoughts after joining Chelsea from Manchester United on deadline day
Jadon Sancho is relishing being back in London after joining Chelsea from Manchester United on an initial season-long loan with an obligation to buy. The English winger joined the club he supported during his childhood, and he'll be signed permanently if the Blues finish above 14th in the league.
Sancho, 24, spoke about his arrival at Stamford Bridge and what he'll be looking to bring to Enzo Maresca's team. He told club media:
"I’m really excited to be here. London is where I grew up and I’m happy to be back. The manager spoke to me about the project and, for a young player, it's exciting. Hopefully I can bring goals and assists to the Bridge."
Sancho returned to Manchester United earlier this summer after spending the second half of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund. He was reinstated into Erik ten Hag's first team for pre-season after the pair made amends following last year's falling out.
The 23-cap England international was a prominent member of the Red Devils team during pre-season. An ear infection made him miss the club's opening two 2024-25 campaign fixtures.
Sancho was linked with an exit throughout the summer despite reconciling with Ten Hag. Chelsea's interest intensified at the back end of the window, and they moved for him on deadline day.
The London-born winger will be eager to get back to his best, which was during his first spell at Dortmund. He excelled with BvB before joining United for £73 million in 2021.
Sancho has struggled to impress with the Red Devils, failing to hit expectations. He's managed 12 goals and six assists in 83 games across competitions, unable to nail down a starting berth.
How much will Chelsea pay Manchester United for Jadon Sancho if he joins permanently?
GiveMeSport's senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs reports that Chelsea are set to pay Manchester United £20-25 million if Jadon Sancho's loan becomes a permanent transfer. The obligation to buy will be triggered if the Blues finish above 14th in the Premier League.
The fee starts at £20 million but could rise to £25 million depending on how high Maresca's men finish this season. Chelsea have started the season with a 2-0 loss to Manchester City and a 6-2 thrashing of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Sancho was one of the highest earners at Manchester United, and the Red Devils have been looking to restructure their wage bill. This transfer helps INEOS continue to rectify some glaring decisions from the Glazers' time running sporting operations.