Borussia Dortmund are looking at a stunning third term for Jadon Sancho, whose Manchester United contract expires in June. The Bundesliga giants are confident about enticing the 25-year-old back to Germany, as long as he accepts a hefty pay cut from his present £300,000-per-week salary. Sancho, who has battled for consistency since leaving Germany in 2021, could now attempt to reignite his career in familiar surroundings.
Dortmund intend to re-sign Sancho this summer, when he becomes a free agent. The 26-year-old winger is currently on loan at Aston Villa, marking the end of his United career. Sancho, who moved to Old Trafford in 2021 for a reported £73 million (€85 million/$97 million), has battled to regain his form as one of Europe’s most fearsome strikers. His third tenure at Signal Iduna Park would come after his 2017-2021 breakout and a brief, productive loan return in the second half of the 2023-24 season. Dortmund’s management believes they can assist the England international regain form.
According to a report from The Times, Dortmund’s sporting director, Sebastian Kehl, has emerged as the primary advocate for Sancho’s return. While head coach Niko Kovac initially moved away from using traditional wingers, he has reportedly approved the pursuit after a change in tactical philosophy. Internally, the club views the move as a high-reward gamble; however, the financial terms pose a significant hurdle. Sancho currently earns approximately £15 million per year in Manchester, a figure Dortmund cannot match. To facilitate the move, the club has decided to let the contracts of several senior players expire, freeing up nearly £21 million in the annual wage budget.
Sancho’s journey since his 2021 exit has been fraught with difficulty, moving from a self-described “dream come true” at United to a public falling out with manager Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman famously dropped Sancho in 2023, citing training performances, leading the winger to claim he was being made a “scapegoat” in a deleted social media post. Subsequent moves have failed to provide a permanent home; Chelsea even triggered a£5 million escape clause to avoid a permanent obligation to buy after his loan stint. With 53 goals in 158 games across his previous spells in Germany, a return to the North Rhine-Westphalia region represents his best chance at stability.
