Sancho seals Dortmund return - aims to replicate Bundesliga brilliance after Man Utd misery

Jadon Sancho completed a dramatic return to Borussia Dortmund on Thursday, after the Bundesliga club confirmed that the Manchester United winger had re-joined the club on loan for the remainder of the season. The England international was desperate to depart Old Trafford this month, following an extended period of misfortune and below-par performances, which had seen the player manage just 18 goals and assists in 82 games for the Red Devils. He now returns to Dortmund with no reported clause in place to make the move permanent. Dortmund announced the deal on social media with Sancho leaving a simple message - 'I'm back'.

There's little doubt as to why the 23-year-old talent has opted to return to the Westfalenstadion. Sancho’s dismal attacking output in England is in stark contrast to his unbelievable numbers across his four seasons with Dortmund and the talented winger has expressed his delight over his return. Sancho said: "When I came into the dressing room today, it felt like 'coming home'. I know the club inside out, I've always been very close to the fans here and I've never lost contact with the people in charge. I can't wait to see my team-mates again, get out on the pitch, play football with a smile on my face, set up goals, score goals and help them qualify for the Champions League."

The rise and fall of Jadon Sancho

After rejecting a new contract from Manchester City, Sancho joined Dortmund for €20.6m in 2017 and he delivered on his immense promise to become one of the most coveted youngsters in European football. Sancho’s exceptional performances in the Bundesliga earned him his record-high market valuation of €130m in March 2020, but that’s now dropped by over €100m to just €25m in the latest Premier League update.

Sancho’s predicament at United is partially self-inflicted with Ten Hag forcing him to train with the under-18’s until he apologised for a social media post after the United boss dropped him from the squad to face Arsenal in August due to application for training - no apology ever arrived. Sancho also missed three months of last season after Ten Hag allowed him time off for personal reasons but the talented winger will now be hoping that a return to Dortmund can revitalise his career.

Sancho’s creative instincts flourished in the Bundesliga, where he famously formed a devastating relationship with Erling Haaland. Across his four seasons at Dortmund, Sancho averaged almost a goal or assist per game with 50 goals and 64 assists across 137 appearances.  After emerging as a first-team option during his maiden season in Germany, Sancho established himself as a star player during the 2018/19 campaign. He became the youngest-ever Dortmund player to register 10 goals in a single league season as he finished with 13 and a remarkable 20 assists to earn a place in the Bundesliga team of the season. 

Sancho’s incredible attacking output improved the following season as he hit the 20 mark for goals and assists to record 40 goal contributions in just 44 games. He also finished runner up to Joao Felix for the prestigious Golden Boy award that year and scored his first international goal for England. Sancho’s excellence continued in his final season at Dortmund after he remained at the club despite strong interest from United. He finished the campaign with 16 goals and 20 assists including a double in one of his final games for Dortmund as they won the DFB-Pokal Cup against RB Leipzig.