Sport

Jadon Sancho is at a career crossroad.

Jadon Sancho was once a trailblazer. In 2017, it was extremely rare to see England players of any age make moves abroad, let alone those looking to take their first steps at senior level. When he signed for Borussia Dortmund from Manchester City as a teenager, he was barely known outside of Etihad campus. It didn’t take him long to become one of Europe’s most wanted, though.

Fast-forward to now, and playing in other countries is a mainstream option for so many English, and British, players. Sancho’s bravery and determination led the way, and Dortmund’s reputation for developing youth by throwing players in at the deep end really made an impact on the national game. Jude Bellingham would follow Sancho to Signal Iduna Park three years later when leaving Birmingham City; having thrived in the Championship, he was better known after his emergence and turned down traditionally big English clubs to move to Germany.

Though Sancho had done brilliantly in the black and yellow, accruing 83 goal contributions across four seasons in the Bundesliga, Bellingham’s achievements were arguably greater. Both have had contrasting fortunes since departing, with Bellingham joining Real Madrid and winning a Champions League in his first season, beating his former club in the final. Sancho, meanwhile, left for Manchester United in 2021, and struggled to adapt to the bigger stage and greater pressure. Yet without his decision to break the mould and move abroad in the first place, Bellingham and others may not have taken that same opportunity.

But in the summer of 2025, Sancho faces a crossroads. His Old Trafford career never got going; in three seasons he only recorded 15 goals and assists in the Premier League despite costing £72m. The Red Devils have spent a hefty amount of money on players over the last decade and it is very hard to think of many who have ultimately justified the outlay. Sancho will historically appear as one of the worst examples, but there was more hope with him than most; he certainly was a player everybody got excited about. The weight of the shirt has certainly weighed heavily on most, and plenty have left to express themselves in more suitable environments, but Sancho was a bit of a different case.

Reports of lateness to training dated back to his Dortmund days, and there was little sympathy for his struggles due to his attitude. England boss Gareth Southgate never fully trusted him, and he certainly hasn’t lived up to his potential on the international stage.

Everything came to a head for him when he refused to apologise for a public spat with then boss Erik ten Hag early in the 2023-24 season; the Dutchman had called his work ethic in training into question, and ultimately he returned to Dortmund on loan. The love and affection he received, and freedom he played with, helped him get back to something like his best; but despite helping the club to the Champions League final – which they lost to Bellingham’s Madrid – there was no permanent return. Chelsea was his next destination, on loan with a £25m obligation to buy, or a £5m penalty fee if it wasn’t taken up.

But the Blues were the worst place for him. If Sancho is to get back to his best, he needs games, trust and time to reach his best levels. Chelsea have too big a squad for that, and he never got a run in the side. News this week that they will pay the fee to send him back puts his career trajectory in real jeopardy. From being England’s biggest hope, he is at risk of being left behind. With wages of around £350,000-per-week, it is hard to see where he goes next. Clubs that will allow him the space he needs to find his feet can’t afford him; those who can will look at what happened this season at Chelsea and see him as too high a risk.

Now it is up to Sancho alone to get himself back on track. At 25, it is not too late, but he is in real danger of wasting his potential. The self-belief which took him to Dortmund and opened up doors for others is needed; the next move he makes is crucial.