Aston Villa are currently considering whether to sign Jadon Sancho on a permanent deal this summer.
With the 2025/26 season now over, it is time for the club to evaluate the squad, individual performances, and most importantly the loan signings. Sancho is among those under review, alongside Harvey Elliott and Douglas Luiz.
Villa appear almost certain not to activate the options to buy Elliott and Luiz, meaning both players are expected to return to their parent clubs, Liverpool and Juventus respectively. However, Sancho’s situation is slightly different. The winger is currently a free agent, and Unai Emery reportedly has a different stance regarding his future despite his overall performances being fairly similar to the other two loanees.
According to a report from Sportboom, the Spanish manager is surprisingly pushing for a permanent deal.
“Villa boss Unai Emery is understood to be pushing for a permanent deal, although any agreement may hinge on Sancho reducing his previously sizeable wage demands while at United.”
Sancho’s performances last season were far from convincing. He featured in 39 matches, mostly from the bench, and registered just one goal and two assists.
The 26-year-old struggled to showcase the quality and creativity that once made him one of England’s brightest talents. Occasional glimpses of his peak form were visible, but not consistently enough to impress supporters.
According to FotMob data, Sancho’s attacking numbers were disappointing. His xG stood at just 0.58, while his xA reached only 1.94. The strongest aspects of his game were his passing accuracy (83.6 per cent), accurate long balls (66.7 per cent), and successful dribbles (55.2 per cent).
Sancho was once regarded as one of the most exciting young players in Europe after rising to prominence at Borussia Dortmund following his departure from Manchester City in 2017. His impressive form in Germany earned him a £73 million move to Manchester United in 2021.
Unfortunately, his spell at Old Trafford never truly worked out, particularly after falling out of favour under Erik ten Hag in 2023. Since then, he has spent time on loan at Dortmund during the second half of the 2023/24 season, Chelsea in 2024/25, and Aston Villa this season. Despite each club having an option to buy, none have yet been fully convinced to activate it due to his inconsistent form.
Emery’s willingness to push for a permanent move for the 23-cap England international is certainly unexpected. It represents a shift in thinking, especially as he was reportedly undecided about the futures of both Sancho and Douglas Luiz prior to the match against Manchester City.
Many supporters may wonder what has changed. Judging purely from his performances, Sancho has not done enough to fully convince the fanbase. However, Emery may see qualities beyond the statistics.
The winger is still in his prime years and remains a player with undeniable talent. He will also be available on a free transfer from June, making him a potentially low-risk signing. In addition, Sancho already has experience playing at the highest level both in England and abroad.
That combination could be enough to persuade Emery to continue working with him. The Villa manager may believe he can help Sancho rediscover the form he once showed at Borussia Dortmund.
There is also a possibility Sancho could follow a similar path to Emiliano Buendía this season. The Argentine was viewed by many as a failed signing and appeared close to leaving last summer before becoming one of the key figures in Villa’s successful 2025/26 campaign.
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