2024-2025 season's summer transfer window has come to a close, and Chelsea, who has been criticized for having a bloated squad, has been making moves at a frenetic pace. On the last day of the transfer window, the Blues sent Sterling, Broja, and Trevoh Chalobah out on loan, and signed the 24-year-old English winger Sancho on a loan deal from Manchester United.

On the evening of August 31st, Chelsea finally made an official announcement welcoming Sancho. According to earlier reports from the English media, Chelsea will bear Sancho's wages during the loan period, but his wages have been significantly reduced compared to his time at Manchester United, going from £300,000 to £120,000 to £150,000 per week. The loan contract for this one-year loan also includes a buyout clause: as long as Chelsea finishes in the top 14 of the Premier League this season, the buyout clause will be activated, with a fee ranging from £20 million to £25 million.

Never truly reconciled?

Sancho, who rose to fame at a young age, has gone through a lot in recent years. He came through the Watford youth academy before joining Manchester City's youth team. In 2017, Sancho moved to Borussia Dortmund and became a top-class winger in the Bundesliga. During this period, Sancho played 137 games for Dortmund, contributing 50 goals and 64 assists. In the summer of 2021, Sancho joined Manchester United for a transfer fee of €85 million, but he failed to replicate his performances and efficiency from his time at Dortmund. Under Teng Ha Ha, Sancho's status became increasingly marginalized. In September of last year, their conflict became public.

In the fourth round of last season's Premier League, Sancho was not included in the squad, to which Teng Ha Ha explained, "We didn't select him based on his performances in training." Sancho responded on social media, saying, "Please don't believe everything you read. I won't allow people to say things that are completely untrue. My training this week has been great. I believe there are other reasons why I couldn't make the squad. I have been made a scapegoat for a long time, and that's unfair!"

Faced with Sancho's public confrontation, Teng Ha Ha responded with an iron fist. He banned Sancho from participating in first-team activities and even eating in the first-team canteen. Sancho refused to apologize, and when the winter transfer window arrived, his former club Dortmund extended an olive branch, which Sancho gladly accepted, joining on loan. In the half season he spent at Dortmund, Sancho regained his electrifying form on the wings. In 21 games for Dortmund, he started 18 times, scored 3 goals, provided 2 assists, and helped Dortmund reach the Champions League final.

This summer, Sancho's loan spell at Dortmund ended, and he returned to report to Manchester United. His relationship with Teng Ha Ha seemed to have thawed, and he even made an appearance in the Community Shield match. However, when the Premier League started, Sancho was still not in Teng Ha Ha's plans and was absent from the squad for two consecutive league matches. The Manchester Evening News explained that Sancho had an ear infection. However, the Daily Mail revealed that the relationship between Sancho and Teng Ha Ha had only superficially improved and had never truly been reconciled.

According to the newspaper, before Sancho rejoined the first team, Teng Ha Ha had a conversation with him, but the conversation did not resolve the conflict between the two. Manchester United's arrangement was for Sancho to participate in preseason training so that he could maintain his form and ensure his market value. There are also reports that Sancho originally wanted to stay at Dortmund, where his career took off rapidly, and he was familiar with everything there and wanted to continue contributing to Dortmund. However, Dortmund could not afford Sancho's transfer fee, so Sancho had to give up that option.

With a last-minute move, Sancho joins Chelsea

Chelsea's invitation allowed Sancho to leave Manchester United at the last minute. Considering the buyout clause in the loan contract that states Chelsea only needs to finish in the top 14 of the Premier League to activate the buyout, Sancho has basically bid farewell to his Manchester United career. Born in London, Sancho has been a Chelsea fan since childhood, so this move to Chelsea is a dream come true for him. In an interview, he mentioned that he admired Drogba and Lampard the most and really liked Lampard's style. Moreover, Joe Edwards, Chelsea's head of recruitment, was the person who brought Sancho from Watford to Manchester City back then.

Perhaps many Chelsea fans are surprised by this deal. The team has already signed Felix and Pedro Neto this summer, who have similar roles to Sancho. "Do we really need Sancho?" is a question many fans have. Furthermore, it is widely believed that Chelsea's most pressing need is a pure striker, but number 9 hasn't arrived, and instead they brought in a player who has been successful in the Bundesliga but has lost his way in the Premier League. So why did they do it?

According to Sky Sports reporter Solhekol, Chelsea's logic is that this signing opportunity was too good to refuse. From 2015 to 2017, Sancho was a Manchester City youth academy player, and there are some people at Chelsea who have worked with Sancho during his time at Manchester City. They believe that Sancho just encountered difficulties at Manchester United, and as long as he is given a fresh start, they can help him unleash his full potential. Three years ago, he was a player worth £85 million to Borussia Dortmund paid by Manchester United, and he is only 24 years old now. Even though signing him is a risk, it is a risk worth taking. Of course, Sancho's primary task in his new environment is to fight for a starting position, as Chelsea already has too many wingers.

BBC reporter Simon Stone commented that Sancho's move to Chelsea is the best way out for both Manchester United and Sancho in their disastrous situation. "Sancho is completely out of Teng Ha Ha's plans, and Manchester United arranged for Sancho to participate in preseason training just to keep him in shape and make it easier for him to find a new club. His performances didn't meet expectations even before the public confrontation between Sancho and Teng Ha Ha. Manchester United already has a relatively stable selection for the winger position. Unfortunately, Sancho didn't succeed at Manchester United. Considering everything that happened before, this solution is not perfect, but it is the best way out."

文/燕山、亚迪