As the 2024/25 Premier League season concludes, season-long loan deals expire, with players set to return to their parent clubs.
For some, this return is positive news, especially if they lacked playing time during their loan spell, and with new managers in place at their parent club, they see an opportunity to earn a spot in the starting lineup.
But for others, like Manchester United’s left winger Jadon Sancho, it may be less so. Sancho, who joined Chelsea on loan just before the season started on August 31, 2024, has spent nine months proving himself a valuable asset to the team.
He may prefer to make his move permanent, especially given the unfavourable situation at his parent club, Manchester United.
Sancho, whose goals propelled Enzo Maresca’s team to a top-four finish, sealing a Champions League spot for the Blues, scored in his side’s 4-1 victory over Spanish side Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League Final.
This season, he ended up with five goals and 10 assists in all competitions, with most of his contributions coming in the conference league, where he scored twice and provided five assists.
Jadon Sancho’s Dispute at Manchester United
After two and a half seasons at United, where he scored 12 goals (five in 2021/22 and seven in 2022/23), Sancho was sidelined in the 2023/24 season, playing only three matches following a dispute with head coach Erik ten Hag.
The reported issues centred on attitude and training performance, which Sancho denied, refusing to apologise, leading to an extended period on the bench.
He was loaned back to Borussia Dortmund, where he showed flashes of potential, and led the team to the UEFA Champions League final in 2024. However, they fell short against Real Madrid.
Upon returning to United, he was deemed surplus, and the 25-year-old made one of the most interesting loan moves in the summer to rivals Chelsea, marking a pragmatic move for his career.
Sancho, who, in an interview with talkSPORT, confessed to being a boyhood fan of the club called Frank Lampard his England hero.
“I was a Chelsea fan growing up, I can’t lie! Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard were my favourite players at the time.
“I just love Frank Lampard and how he played his game; he was so direct and so composed on the ball. I like things like that.”
Maresca, who has been impressed by Sancho’s performances since joining the club, has given a hint at the Blues making the deal permanent. The Italian boss in his post-match interview after the win said;
“We are going to sit with the club and decide what happens for next year. If we finish fourth it is also because of Jadon, if we win tonight it is also because of Jadon.”
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Sancho’s Loan Terms
Chelsea’s season-long loan of Jadon Sancho includes a conditional obligation to purchase him permanently for £20-25million if the club finishes above 14th in the Premier League table.
However, a “get-out” clause allows the Blues to avoid the purchase by paying Manchester United a £5 million penalty.
Sancho’s impressive displays at the West London club have likely boosted his market value, potentially drawing attention from other clubs if the permanent transfer does not proceed.
Their choice to either pay the £20-25 million fee or exercise the £5 million penalty clause will hinge on their long-term squad strategy and Sancho’s place in it.
And at 25, a permanent move to Chelsea could cement Jadon Sancho’s status as a Premier League star, providing stability and a platform to earn a recall to Thomas Tuchel’s England National team, where he has been absent since 2021.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / NurPhoto
Recording Date: 29.05.2025