Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications.
Jadon Sancho is going back to Germany in a bid to revive his career.
Manchester United finalized a deal on Thursday that allows the English winger to rejoin Borussia Dortmund on loan until the end of the season, the Premier League club announced.
“When I walked into the changing room today, it felt like coming home,” Sancho said, according to Dortmund’s website.
“I know the club inside out, I’ve always been very close to the fans here, and I’ve never lost contact with the people in charge. I can’t wait to see my teammates again, get out on the pitch, play football with a smile on my face, get assists, score goals, and help the club qualify for the Champions League.”
Sancho’s departure from Old Trafford – less than three years after his arrival for a reported €85-million fee in 2021 – is the conclusion of a months-long public fallout with United head coach Erik ten Hag.
The 23-year-old hadn’t played for the Red Devils since August. He criticizing Ten Hag for dropping him against Arsenal in early September and was forced to train away from the first team after refusing to issue a private and public apology to the Dutch manager.
The six-month loan agreement includes a €3.5-million fee, as well as Dortmund’s commitment to contributing a portion of Sancho’s wages, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein. Manchester United could also potentially receive performance-related bonuses.
Sancho recently expressed a desire to return to his former club, where he developed into a star during his four-year spell in Germany, after it became clear that he had no immediate future at United.
Sancho scored 12 goals in 82 appearances for the Red Devils. During his first spell in Germany, he had 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 games.
Meanwhile, Dortmund’s poor run of form before the Bundesliga winter break heightened the club’s urgency to improve during the January transfer window. The German side sits in fifth place, 15 points back of leaders Bayer Leverkusen, after failing to win its six games in all competitions in December.
Dortmund will likely assess Sancho’s fitness level to determine when he’ll be available after he was forced to spend four months on the sidelines without playing meaningful football. Their first game back after the winter break is Jan. 13 against Darmstadt.