A former scout has disclosed why Chelsea opted not to pursue the signing of Jadon Sancho long before he made his move to Manchester United.
Jadon Sancho had emerged as one of the most promising talents in global football, initially rising through the ranks at Borussia Dortmund after departing Manchester City at a young age. However, his trajectory took a downturn following his transfer to Manchester United in 2021.
After bursting onto the scene at Dortmund, Sancho’s transition to United for a hefty fee of £73 million failed to yield the expected impact. His tenure at Old Trafford was marked by struggles, culminating in a falling-out with manager Erik ten Hag in September 2023, which led to his exclusion from the squad.
Subsequently, in January, Sancho returned to Dortmund on loan until the season’s end, casting doubt on his future with United.
Despite Sancho’s immense potential, a former Chelsea scout shed light on why the club refrained from pursuing his signature. Chris Robinson, a pivotal figure in Chelsea’s scouting apparatus for the past decade, detailed his reservations about signing Sancho during his time at Watford’s under-14s.
“I saw Jadon Sancho when he was under-14s playing as a striker for Watford,” Robinson recounted. “He was alright… You know, he was just ok. “He signed for Manchester City almost straight after. We knew that City were interested, and he became a winger there and became the player he was at Borussia Dortmund, he was terrific wasn’t he.”
Robinson further disclosed passing on opportunities to sign Dele Alli and Joe Gomez, who were then plying their trade at MK Dons and Charlton Athletic, respectively.
Sancho’s loan return to Germany has yet to reignite his form. Despite his stint at Borussia Dortmund this term, the 23-year-old has managed only two assists and no goals in 11 appearances.
