By Oscar Woods 
Jadon Sancho has been on a rollercoaster ride since his big money move to Manchester United back in 2021, but his recent performance for Aston Villa might just be the turning point the 25 year old winger desperately needed.
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Breaking the Drought in Istanbul
The English international scored his first goal for Villa on January 22, 2026, heading home in the 25th minute to secure a 1-0 victory over Fenerbahce in Turkey. This wasn’t just any goal. It guaranteed Villa a top eight finish in the Europa League and ended Fenerbahce’s unbeaten home record. After 19 appearances without finding the back of the net, Sancho delivered when it mattered most.
According to multiple match reports, the winger was described as being in top form on the left flank. He won five out of eight ground duels, completed three out of three tackles, and made one clearance to help his team defensively. His contribution went far beyond just the goal.
A Career Stuck in Reverse
Sancho’s journey reads like a cautionary tale about expectations and reality in modern football. United paid £73 million to bring him back to England from Borussia Dortmund in 2021. The club believed they were getting one of Europe’s most exciting young talents, someone who had registered impressive numbers in the Bundesliga and helped Dortmund reach the 2024 UEFA Champions League final during a loan spell.
Instead, Sancho struggled to find consistency at Old Trafford. A public falling out with then manager Erik ten Hag in 2023 sent his career spiraling. Since January 2024, he’s been on three different loan spells: back to Dortmund, then to Chelsea where he won the UEFA Conference League in 2025 and scored in the final, and now at Villa Park.
Chelsea had an obligation to make his move permanent last summer but chose to pay United a £5 million fee to cancel the deal rather than keep him. That decision speaks volumes about how his time there went, despite three goals and four assists in 31 appearances.
The Manchester United Situation
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed in late December that Manchester United have made their position crystal clear. The club will not trigger their 12 month contract extension option. According to Romano, United believe Sancho’s chapter at Old Trafford is closed, with no chance of reconciliation. He will leave as a free agent when his contract expires in summer 2026.
Villa are currently paying 80 per cent of Sancho’s wages during his loan spell, which runs through the 2025/26 season. United are covering the remaining 20 per cent and received a loan fee for the arrangement.
Turkish Interest and Future Options
Reports surfaced in November that Sancho held private meetings with representatives from Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and Besiktas at a luxury Istanbul hotel during the international break. Each Turkish club presented their long term plans to the winger. He’s reportedly willing to take a pay cut to facilitate a permanent move that would guarantee him regular playing time.
Borussia Dortmund also remain interested in bringing Sancho back to Germany, but only if he accepts a substantial salary reduction. The German club enjoyed his best years, where he made 137 appearances and won the DFB Pokal in 2021.
Monaco have also been mentioned as a potential destination, viewing him as a technically gifted player whose confidence has taken a hit but whose ceiling remains high.
The Villa Struggle Before the Breakthrough
Things haven’t been smooth sailing at Villa Park either. Before his goal against Fenerbahce, Sancho had made all eight of his Premier League appearances as a substitute without registering a single goal or assist. He’s started just four matches all season, all in Europa League competition.
There was even an incident in October when he appeared visibly frustrated after being substituted during a Europa League match against Basel, reportedly ignoring manager Unai Emery when leaving the pitch. Coach Emery later stated publicly that Sancho still needed to build his fitness levels.
The winger also missed a match against Manchester United in September due to loan agreement restrictions preventing him from facing his parent club.
A Glimpse of the Old Sancho
What made the Fenerbahce performance stand out was how Sancho played with purpose and aggression rather than drifting through the match. He demanded the ball, drove at defenders, and created chances beyond his goal. After meeting a cross from Matty Cash, he nearly doubled the lead before halftime but was denied by a last second block from Milan Skriniar.
Post match analysis praised his work rate and intensity, noting he won his defensive duels and contributed at both ends of the pitch. For a player who’s been criticized for waiting for moments to come to him rather than forcing the issue, this was a welcome change.
What’s Next for the English Winger
At 25, Sancho still has his prime years ahead of him. He’s won the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup with England and made his senior debut in 2018, appearing at Euro 2020. The talent has never been in question. It’s the consistency and mentality that have held him back.
Villa have one more Europa League match in their group stage, already having secured their knockout round berth. Whether Sancho can build on his Istanbul heroics and earn a permanent move somewhere, or whether this was just another false dawn, remains to be seen.
What’s certain is that come summer 2026, Sancho will be a free agent looking for his next challenge. His contract situation means clubs can negotiate with him directly without paying a transfer fee. For a player who once commanded £73 million, that’s a remarkable fall from grace.
The question now is whether Jadon Sancho can recapture the form that made him one of Europe’s hottest prospects, or if his career will become another example of unfulfilled potential in English football.