Jadon Sancho appears increasingly inclined to continue his career outside England, despite interest from clubs in the Premier League, as the winger explores his next move following his departure from Manchester United.
The 26-year-old has been without a club for six weeks after his United contract officially expired, leaving him free to negotiate with any interested party. While he has not ruled out staying in English football, reports suggest his personal preference leans toward a switch abroad.
Among the clubs said to be tracking his situation is Borussia Dortmund, the German side where Sancho first made his name as a teenager. He has represented Dortmund across two separate spells, amassing 158 appearances for the Bundesliga club before his big-money transfer to Manchester United in 2021, a deal worth £73m at the time.
Sancho's time at United, however, was largely characterized by inconsistency and a series of loan spells away from Old Trafford. Last season, he joined Aston Villa on loan and featured prominently under manager Unai Emery, making 39 appearances as the club secured Champions League qualification and lifted the Europa League title. Sancho played a role in that European triumph, coming off the bench late in the final win over Freiburg — remarkably, his third European final appearance in as many seasons.//
The season before that, Sancho spent his loan spell at Chelsea, appearing 41 times for the west London club. That arrangement had included a clause obligating Chelsea to sign him permanently, but the Blues instead opted to pay a £5m penalty to avoid triggering the buy option, sending the winger back to Manchester United rather than completing a permanent transfer.
With his United career now over and no club commitment in place, Sancho has kept himself in shape by training with non-league side Flixton, a modest but practical solution to ensure he does not fall behind physically ahead of the new campaign. The arrangement highlights the somewhat unusual position of a full England international and former £73m signing preparing for pre-season away from the professional stage.
Sancho's next destination remains unresolved, but the growing sense is that a return to a familiar environment such as Dortmund could offer him the stability and consistent playing time that eluded him during loan spells at Chelsea and Villa. His two previous stints in Germany established him as one of Europe's most promising wide players, and interest from the Bundesliga side underlines the mutual familiarity between player and club.
Still, sources close to the situation stress that Sancho remains open-minded about his next step and has not eliminated any possibility, including an offer from within England. Multiple Premier League clubs are believed to have made contact, though his stated preference for a move overseas may ultimately shape the outcome of these discussions.
As a free agent, Sancho holds significant control over his next destination, without the constraints of a transfer fee complicating negotiations. That freedom, combined with his proven pedigree at both club and international level, means he is likely to remain a subject of transfer speculation until a decision is finalized.
For now, the winger continues his individual training regimen, waiting for the right opportunity to present itself as clubs across Europe assess whether he fits into their plans for the upcoming season.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.