Man Utd flop linked with SHOCK January return

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 29 Oct 2025 11:53 GMT
4 min read

Jadon Sancho is being linked with another return to Manchester United after a disastrous start to his loan at Aston Villa.

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Sancho joined Aston Villa this summer on a season-long loan from Man Utd.

Current ETV

Jadon Sancho

F (L), M (RL)

Aston Villa

Jadon Sancho

F (L), M (RL)

Aston Villa

ETV Range

€26.6M - €32.5M

Having been in talks with Juventus and Roma, Sancho ended up joining Villa and there were hopes that this could be the move that finally resurrects his career.

However, Sancho has so far struggled badly at Villa Park. He has played just 53 minutes of football in the Premier League from two substitute appearances and has no goals or assists in all competitions.

Sancho to return to Man Utd in 2026

There have been reports in recent days that Villa will look to end Sancho's loan spell as early as January.

The Daily Mail reports that contractually Villa don't have the option to do this but that doesn't mean they won't still try to negotiate a return.

What does seem sure is that it is unlikely Villa make the deal permanent at the end of the season.

Sancho will thus return to Manchester and, while his contract expires at the end of the season, United should take up their option to extend by another year in order to protect their investment for a sale.

Sancho's struggles at Villa is just the latest example of his flailing career.

Sancho, 25, moved to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2024 on a loan from Manchester United with an option to buy.

But Sancho struggled so badly that Chelsea even decided to pay a penalty fee to United in order to send him back rather than make the transfer permanent.

© IMAGO - Sancho has flopped at United and Chelsea

Sancho joined Man Utd from Dortmund for €85 million in the summer of 2021.

But he has been a major disappointment at Old Trafford.

He scored just 12 goals in 82 appearances for United and has been regularly a bench player during his time at the club.

He has had problems off the pitch and in 2023-24, Sancho was frozen out of the squad at Man Utd.

It came after then-manager Erik ten Hag criticised Sancho publicly for his poor performances in training, which was followed by the winger essentially calling his manager a liar on social media.

Sancho was not called up again after this incident and was barred from training with the first team, as well as using their facilities and canteen.

Sancho was also deleted from the team’s WhatsApp group by Ten Hag.

United transfer listed him and then sent him on loan to Dortmund in January where he rediscovered some of his form and helped the club to the Champions League final where they lost to Real Madrid.

He subsequently joined Chelsea in the summer of 2024 but struggled again.

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