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BORUSSIA DORTMUND DOWNPLAY POSSIBILITY OF SANCHO RETURN AS SAUDI CLUBS CIRCLE
Borussia Dortmund has distanced itself from reports suggesting a third spell at the club could be on the cards for Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho, who recently returned from an unsuccessful loan stint at Chelsea.
Speaking to German press this week, Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl provided clarity following a surge in media speculation regarding the English winger’s future. Kehl acknowledged the club’s historic connection with Sancho but emphasized that the forward is not among their current transfer priorities.
“Of course, contact with Jadon is always there in some way because we have a very long history,” Kehl said. “But it’s not an issue for us right now. We have other priorities at the moment and that’s why the Sancho issue was probably played up more in the media than discussed internally.”
Sancho’s Rise and Fall
Sancho, 24, was once considered one of Europe’s brightest young talents. During his first spell at Dortmund between 2017 and 2021, he dazzled Bundesliga fans, recording 53 goals and 67 assists in just 157 appearances across all competitions. His electric pace, flair, and creativity made him a crowd favorite at Signal Iduna Park and earned him a big-money move to Manchester United in July 2021.
However, his time in the Premier League has been anything but smooth. A combination of inconsistent form, off-field issues, and managerial changes saw Sancho fall down the pecking order at Old Trafford. He was loaned to Chelsea in January 2025 but failed to impress, scoring just three Premier League goals. Chelsea ultimately declined the option to buy, even opting to pay a £5 million penalty to end the arrangement early.
What Comes Next?
Sancho’s future remains uncertain, but a return to Dortmund appears unlikely at this stage. Instead, the winger has reportedly attracted significant interest from the Saudi Pro League, with Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ittihad all said to be monitoring the situation closely.
According to a report by The Mirror, newly appointed Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim has no intention of reintegrating Sancho into the Red Devils’ first-team plans. This has paved the way for a possible move to the Middle East, where financial packages could far exceed European offers.
Should Sancho opt for Saudi Arabia, he would follow in the footsteps of other high-profile names who’ve made the move in recent windows. It would represent a major shift in his career trajectory—just four years after being one of the continent’s hottest prospects.
The Bigger Picture
While the romantic notion of a Sancho homecoming remains appealing to Dortmund fans, the club’s decision-makers appear focused on fresh talent and long-term planning rather than nostalgia. With Kehl clearly stating Sancho is not on the radar, attention now shifts to the winger’s next chapter—one that may unfold far away from both Manchester and Dortmund.