Manchester United to release Jadon Sancho on free transfer
Manchester United have decided not to trigger a one-year contract extension for Jadon Sancho, allowing the winger to leave the club on a free transfer this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano. The club has opted against activating a one-year option in his deal, which would have extended his contract until 2025, and will instead allow his existing contract to expire on June 30th.
Sancho, who arrived at Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021 for a reported £73 million, has been on loan at his former club Dortmund since the January transfer window. According to Romano, Manchester United have decided that the high cost of extending his contract for another season, which would have allowed them to seek a transfer fee, is not financially viable. The club has instead chosen to accept a significant financial loss on the player, letting him depart as a free agent.
The 26-year-old winger's time at Old Trafford was largely underwhelming, failing to replicate the form that made him one of Europe's most exciting prospects at Dortmund. His high-profile fallout with manager Erik ten Hag earlier this season, which saw him exiled from the first team before his loan return to Germany, marked the effective end of his United career. His return to Dortmund has seen a modest resurgence, with a goal and an assist in his first six Bundesliga appearances of the season.
According to Romano, Borussia Dortmund are actively working to re-sign Sancho on a permanent deal this summer, with the player open to a return. The broadcaster also noted interest from clubs in Italy. Sancho's departure will bring a definitive end to a high-profile, expensive transfer that failed to deliver on its promise. For Manchester United, it represents a significant financial loss but a clean break from a player who has not featured for the club since August 2023. The decision signals a clear intention to move on from a high-earning squad member who is not part of the club's future plans, even at the cost of receiving no transfer fee.
