Chelsea have decided against signing Jadon Sancho permanently and will pay a £5 million penalty to terminate their obligation to buy him from Manchester United.
The winger, who joined Chelsea on loan last summer after a fallout with former United manager Erik ten Hag, will return to Old Trafford.
Sancho’s loan deal involved no fee, with Chelsea only covering half of his reported £300,000-per-week wages. The agreement included a clause requiring Chelsea to sign him for £25 million if they finished above 14th in the Premier League—an obligation they’ve now opted out of, citing failure to agree on personal terms with the player.
Sancho, who still has a year left on his United contract, would have needed to accept a wage reduction. United, meanwhile, are open to offloading him and still owe £17 million to Borussia Dortmund from his original £73 million transfer.
Despite his inconsistent form, Sancho contributed five goals and ten assists in 42 appearances this season and played a key role in Chelsea’s 4–1 victory over Real Betis, helping secure the UEFA Conference League title—the club’s first silverware since February 2022. However, he is not expected to feature in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
While Sancho prepares to depart, Chelsea are actively exploring new transfer targets and have expressed interest in AC Milan’s Mike Maignan. The French international, who replaced Hugo Lloris as France’s first-choice goalkeeper in 2023, is reportedly open to a move to Stamford Bridge. Maignan, 29, has been a consistent performer for Milan since his move from Lille in 2021.
Chelsea’s goalkeeping situation remains unsettled. Since signing Kepa Arrizabalaga for a world-record £71 million in 2018, the Blues have struggled to establish a long-term No. 1. Edouard Mendy offered a temporary solution before his 2023 departure to Al-Ahli.
Kepa has since been loaned out to Real Madrid and Bournemouth, while recent signings Robert Sanchez, Djordje Petrovic, and Filip Jorgensen have yet to fully convince the club. Petrovic spent the last season on loan at Strasbourg, with Sanchez and Jorgensen both rotating in goal.
Chelsea’s transfer strategy signals a clear intent to refine the squad with experienced, high-performing players—starting with a serious push to solidify the goalkeeper position.
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