Jadon Sancho’s long-term future remains uncertain as Chelsea may yet decide against making his loan move permanent, potentially sending him back to Manchester United this summer.
Sancho joined the Blues on a season-long loan after struggling for three seasons at Old Trafford. He made an impressive start at Stamford Bridge, providing three assists in his first three games, but his impact has faded, with only one goal contribution in his last 13 Premier League matches.
Despite Chelsea’s obligation to buy Sancho if they finish 14th or higher, The Daily Mail reports that the club could still find a way to exit the deal—though doing so would come with a significant financial penalty. United are also set to pay £17 million for Sancho this summer, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe naming him as one of five expensive signings inherited under the club’s new ownership.
A further complication is that Sancho has yet to agree to personal terms with Chelsea over a permanent move. Typically, such agreements are reached at the time of a loan deal with an obligation to buy, but that was not the case in this instance.
Sancho has expressed happiness about playing for Chelsea, recently stating, “I’m really delighted that I’m here, playing football at Chelsea. Maresca makes us feel at home. We’ve grown into one big family.” However, his future remains unresolved.
With Chelsea currently in the race for Champions League qualification, the club must soon decide whether to commit to the purchase or find a way out of the agreement. If they choose the latter, Sancho could return to United, creating another dilemma for the club, which is already looking to offload players.
United’s co-owner Ratcliffe recently highlighted the financial burden of past signings, mentioning Sancho as an example of costly decisions they must now manage. “For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17m to buy him in the summer,” he said.
Sancho’s fate will likely depend on Chelsea’s final league position and their willingness to absorb the financial consequences of any decision to part ways with the winger.