Has Jadon Sancho been good at Borussia Dortmund? Man United loanee analysed

In a quiet January transfer window, Jadon Sancho’s return to Borussia Dortmund grabbed more headlines than any other deal. The 23-year-old was ostracised from Manchester United’s first-team squad by Erik ten Hag after refusing to apologise following a social media outburst. Sancho arrived at United amid huge expectations for €85 million in 2021 but he endured a disappointing two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford. He only provided 18 goal contributions in 82 games with his market value falling by an incredible €75m during his time in England. After choosing to leave Manchester City, Sancho excelled in Germany to develop his reputation as one of the most exciting youngsters on the planet but how has he fared on his return to Dortmund? And can it galvanise his flagging career? 

How has Jadon Sancho performed at Borussia Dortmund?

In his five Bundesliga appearances since rejoining Dortmund, Sancho has played 265 minutes and provided two assists. Those assists arrived in his first two games back at Dortmund, against Darmstadt and Köln but his form has dropped off. The England international missed the goalless draw against Heidenheim through injury and he was only afforded two minutes off the bench against Freiberg before the weekend draw with Wolfsburg.  Sancho has registered 0.3 assists per 90 since returning to Germany, but he’s yet to score despite averaging 0.36 xG per 90. 

During his last season in Germany before joining Man United, Sancho scored eight goals and provided 12 assists in 26 Bundesliga games. The talented winger averaged 0.42 assists per 90 in the league - higher than his record this season - with an xG of 0.3 per 90, which is lower than this season. For comparison, Sancho’s most prolific season in the German top-flight arrived in 2019/20 when he registered 17 goals and 17 assists in 32 appearances. 

Dortmund are unbeaten since Sancho’s return and they’ve leapt above RB Leipzig into the Champions League places - the winger targeted a top four finish upon his return. It’s imperative to consider that Sancho hadn’t played in five months upon his return and time was required to allow him to reach peak fitness levels. Sancho will hope to reignite his loan spell at Dortmund in their return to the Champions League against PSV tonight but he’s only provided one goal contribution in his last seven appearances in the competition.

“So far, Jadon Sancho has done okay at Dortmund without really setting the heather alight,” said Stefan Bienkowski, Transfermarkt’s lead UK content manager and Bundesliga expert. “Two assists from his first two Bundesliga games suggested that the last couple of years at Man Utd had just been a horrid fever dream, but a poor performance against Bochum and then a necessary rest against Heidenheim because he wasn't quite up to full fitness brought back a lot of the realities that troubled him at Old Trafford. Dortmund's attack was extremely disjointed before Sancho arrived and so far he hasn't been able to fix it."

What does the future hold for Jadon Sancho? 

It’s highly unlikely that Sancho has a future at United, especially if Ten Hag remains as manager, as expected, next season. That would require Sancho to apologise and he’s been unwilling to do so. INEOS are overhauling United’s sporting department after Sir Jim Radcliffe’s 25% acquisition of the club and Sancho could be moved on permanently to raise funds. Sancho’s astronomical wages will prove problematic for most clubs and Dortmund were unable to insert a buy-option in his loan deal. "A buy option clause for Jadon Sancho or ([an] Maatsen was not realistic,” Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl said. "We naturally advocated for an option with Sancho and Maatsen but the negotiating position was not such that we could implement it... and so we will accept it for now". Sancho seems destined to leave United permanently in the summer and they will hope his performances improve at Dortmund to increase his valuation.