Jadon Sancho has completed his return to Borussia Dortmund from Manchester United, joining on loan until the end of the season. The exiled Red Devils winger produced a brief two-word message to signal the transfer, which for now ends his disastrous Old Trafford career.
On Thursday afternoon, Dortmund hinted that confirmation was imminent by posting a parody of Michael Jordan’s NBA return announcement on X (formerly Twitter). Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, had spent more than a year playing minor-league baseball.
But on March 18, 1995, he shook the sporting world with a two-word statement sent to reporters via fax by his agent, David Falk. It read: “I’m back.”
And that’s exactly how Dortmund indicated that Sancho had completed his return to the club, posting that the statement had been released by the 23-year-old in response to questions about his future.
Sancho travelled to Germany on Wednesday after the Bundesliga giants reached an agreement with United, who will receive £3million from the loan.
Dortmund have also agreed to contribute to the majority of the winger’s £250,000-a-week salary and will send potential bonus payments based on his performances.
Sancho returns to the Westfalenstadion less than three years after leaving in a £73m transfer to United. He has inherited the No 10 shirt.
The England international hasn’t played since August before Erik ten Hag exiled him from his first-team squad over his public reaction to being dropped for the September trip to Arsenal.
And he has expressed his excitement to get back on the pitch, having spent four months training in the academy area at Carrington.
“When I walked into the changing room today, it felt like ‘coming home’,” Sancho told the Dortmund website. “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, get assists, score goals and help the club qualify for the Champions League.”
Sancho spent four years at Dortmund between 2017 and 2021 after leaving Manchester City’s academy due to a lack of opportunities.
He registered 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 appearances before returning to Manchester with his 2021 Old Trafford arrival. But he has only scored 12 and provided six assists in 82 games for United.
In a social media video message aimed at supporters, Sancho said: “Hello BVB fans, it’s Jadon here. I just want to say Happy New Year. I’m so glad to be back, and I can’t wait to get started! See you soon, and take care.”
