Sancho Says No: Why Jadon Sancho Rejected Chelsea Despite Big Contract Offer

Chelsea’s lucrative bid wasn’t enough to keep the Manchester United outcast at Stamford Bridge

For a moment, it looked like Jadon Sancho was about to revive his Premier League career in West London. After a surprisingly successful loan spell at Chelsea, many expected the winger to make his stay permanent. But in a twist that’s left fans scratching their heads, the Manchester United outcast turned down a lucrative contract offer from the Blues—reportedly worth between £180,000 and £200,000 per week.

Now, as Sancho weighs up his next move—possibly to Juventus—the football world is left wondering what truly drove the 25-year-old to reject a club where he had seemingly found his feet again.

Chelsea’s Pitch: Game Time and Good Money

Newcastle United FC v Chelsea FC – Premier League sancho

Under new manager Enzo Maresca, Sancho slotted into Chelsea’s first team with far more ease than many expected. Despite stiff competition from high-profile talents like Joao Felix, Noni Madueke, and Mykhailo Mudryk, the England international carved out a regular role for himself.

Over the course of the 2024-25 campaign, Sancho racked up 41 appearances in all competitions. He looked sharper, more confident, and at times like the Borussia Dortmund version that United had shelled out over £70 million for back in 2021. Chelsea were impressed—not just by his form, but by his professionalism in a dressing room that has seen its share of egos and instability.

So impressed, in fact, that they offered him a permanent deal with wages matching the contribution they had made to his Manchester United salary throughout the loan—somewhere in the region of £180k to £200k per week.

By most standards, it was a generous offer. But Sancho, who still earns a reported £300,000 a week on his United deal, turned it down.

The Price of a Refusal: Chelsea Pay for No Deal

Jadon Sancho Chelsea

Here’s where things get even stranger. According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Chelsea had a clause in their loan agreement stipulating that they’d have to pay Manchester United £5 million if they chose not to make the deal permanent.

That clause came into effect.

Chelsea, having failed to secure Sancho’s signature, now find themselves £5 million lighter without even getting a player in return. It’s a rare situation—and one that underscores just how confident both clubs were at the outset that a permanent deal would happen.

The pre-agreed fee for the transfer was reportedly £25 million, a bargain for a player of Sancho’s age and technical ability, even considering his inconsistent years in Manchester. But the Englishman’s decision to reject Chelsea’s terms meant all bets were off.

Back to Manchester United? Not Quite

Sancho’s rejection of Chelsea doesn’t mean he’s headed back to Old Trafford with open arms.

In fact, quite the opposite.

Along with Marcus Rashford, Antony, Tyrell Malacia, and Alejandro Garnacho, Sancho is one of five Manchester United players who have been granted additional time off and excused from pre-season training. The reason? The club expects all of them to be involved in transfers away from the club this summer.

Manager Ruben Amorim, stepping into the hot seat after Erik ten Hag’s departure, appears to be clearing the decks. And Sancho, despite his resurgence at Chelsea, is still persona non grata in Manchester following that well-publicized fallout with Ten Hag in 2023.

Juventus Enter the Frame – But There’s a Catch

With Chelsea out of the picture and United uninterested in reintegration, Juventus have emerged as serious contenders to sign Sancho this summer.

The Italian giants are reportedly ready to offer the 25-year-old a lifeline in Serie A, with negotiations centered around a similar £25 million fee that Chelsea were prepared to pay.

There’s optimism on both sides—but there’s also a sticking point.

Sancho is said to be open to a pay cut, a necessary concession given Juve’s more modest wage structure. However, he wants Manchester United to cover part of the transition by paying out a €5 million severance package to help offset his drop in salary.

With one year left on his deal at Old Trafford, it’s not an outrageous ask—but it’s one that could delay finalizing the transfer.

Why Did Sancho Say No to Chelsea?

The million-pound question remains: why walk away from a club where you’re playing well, enjoying your football, and getting paid handsomely?

One theory is financial. Sancho, still only 25, may feel he doesn’t need to compromise just yet on earnings. Even though Chelsea offered solid wages, they were still significantly lower than his existing United contract. Taking that hit now—without a guarantee of long-term form or fitness—might have felt premature.

Another theory is ambition. As promising as Chelsea looked at times last season, they’re still a work in progress. With Maresca unproven at the elite level and no Champions League football on the horizon, Sancho might see more sporting value in a move to Juventus, where he’d compete for titles in a more stable environment.

There’s also the question of dressing room dynamics. While Sancho found success on the pitch, Chelsea’s squad remains bloated and unpredictable. With Joao Felix set to stay, and Maresca reportedly keen on reintegrating Christopher Nkunku and Mudryk, Sancho may have worried about finding himself on the fringes once again.

What’s Next?

One thing is clear: Sancho’s future lies away from Manchester United, and Chelsea is no longer an option. The Juventus move looks most likely at the moment, though whether that materializes depends on how negotiations around wages and severance unfold.

For now, the winger remains in limbo—training away from the first-team spotlight and weighing his next steps. His Chelsea spell showed that there’s still a high-level player in there, one capable of unlocking defences and dazzling crowds.

But where he gets to do that next remains to be seen.