The real reason Chelsea failed to sign Jadon Sancho

Before his move to Old Trafford, things could have been very different for Jadon Sancho had Chelsea followed through with their interest on the Manchester United midfielder.

Opening up about the England international in a recent interview, a former Chelsea scout shed light on why the club opted not to sign Jadon Sancho long before his eventual move to Manchester United.

Chris Robinson, a key figure in Chelsea’s scouting team for the past decade, disclosed the rationale behind the decision to forego the opportunity to sign the young talent.

Speaking to Rising Ballers, Robinson reflected on observing Sancho’s early performances while playing as a striker for Watford’s under-14s.

“I saw Jadon Sancho when he was under-14s playing as a striker for Watford. He was alright… You know, he was just ok.” Robinson recalled.

Despite acknowledging Sancho’s abilities, Robinson indicated that the decision not to pursue him further was influenced by Manchester City’s interest, which ultimately led to his transformation into the star winger seen during his tenure at Borussia Dortmund.

“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 remarked.

This revelation comes amidst Sancho’s struggles at Manchester United, where he failed to make the expected impact following his £73 million move in 2021.

The English winger found himself sidelined from the squad in September 2023 after a falling out with manager Erik ten Hag. Subsequently, Sancho returned to Borussia Dortmund on loan in January, with doubts emerging over his future with United.

Robinson’s account adds to the intrigue surrounding Sancho’s career trajectory, underscoring the unpredictability inherent in talent scouting and player development.

Furthermore, Robinson disclosed that Chelsea had also passed on opportunities to sign other notable talents, including Dele Alli and Joe Gomez, who were plying their trade at MK Dons and Charlton Athletic, respectively, at the time.

Sancho’s return to Germany has yet to reignite his form, with the 23-year-old registering two assists and zero goals in 11 appearances for Borussia Dortmund this season.