Jadon Sancho is still looking for the next turn in a career that once appeared destined for the very top. At 26, the England international remains the highest-valued player without a club, with a Transfermarkt valuation of €18 million, yet the summer has passed without the offer he wants.
His route to this point has been a long way from the breakout years at Borussia Dortmund, where his form earned Manchester United an €85 million deal in 2021. Five years on, he has returned to Dortmund once, and also spent time with Chelsea and Aston Villa, before his Old Trafford contract came to an end.
Quick facts
- Sancho is valued at €18 million, the highest figure among notable free agents.
- Manchester United paid €85 million to sign him from Borussia Dortmund in 2021.
- He has trained alone at Flixton, a tenth-tier club near United’s Carrington base.
- Flixton’s owner said there were no negotiations over a move.
- Interest has emerged from Turkey and Saudi Arabia, but Sancho is thought to favour Europe’s five major leagues.
A Dortmund reunion was widely discussed through the window, with the club’s chief executive Lars Ricken admitting the possibility was being considered. The German side ultimately chose to refresh their squad through younger players, including Karetsas, Konstantelias and Nwaneri.
Niko Kovac was more direct on the matter, saying: “We do not need to deal with that.” The door, at least for now, appears closed.
Sancho has kept himself ticking over close to home. Flixton confirmed that he had used its facilities, although the club’s owner moved quickly to dismiss suggestions that a deal of any sort was under discussion.
There have been approaches from the Turkish Süper Lig and the Saudi Pro League in recent weeks. Sancho, however, appears to want to remain in one of Europe’s leading five leagues rather than take a more exotic route.
After a period out of sight, he has offered a small sign of his routine through Instagram. A video showed him running on a treadmill, working in the gym and then training with the ball on grass.
For the moment, the player who lit up Dortmund and arrived in Manchester with heavyweight expectations remains on his own programme. There is still a footballer there with plenty to offer; the unanswered question is which manager is prepared to make the call.
