Jadon Sancho Voices Delight at Aston Villa Amid Manchester United Departure
Jadon Sancho has candidly shared his satisfaction with life at Aston Villa, while also commending manager Unai Emery, in the wake of Manchester United's definitive choice to not extend his stay beyond the current season. The 25-year-old winger, who joined Villa on loan last summer after expressing a desire to exit Old Trafford, has found a renewed sense of belonging at the Midlands club.
Sancho's Journey and Current Form at Villa
Sancho, an England international, had previously spent time at Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea after falling out of favour under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. Despite his contentment at Villa, his on-field performances have not yet reached the anticipated levels, with just one goal and one assist in 25 appearances this term. However, Emery has demonstrated significant trust in the player since the start of 2026, awarding him a starting position in Villa's last five Premier League matches.
Sancho remarked to Villa's official website: "When you have a manager that backs you, you go into training with a lot more confidence, and obviously on matchdays. So, I'm just happy that I'm playing, and hopefully I can help the team throughout the season."
Excitement for Upcoming Fixtures and Fan Support
Ahead of Villa's upcoming clash with Leeds United, Sancho expressed his enthusiasm for playing at Villa Park again, emphasizing his affection for the home supporters. "The camp is excited," he said. "We can't wait to be in front of our fans again. I love playing in front of the home fans. They get behind us a lot, and they support us to the end. We've got a big game against Leeds coming up, so we're looking forward to it. Again, another tough opponent, but if we stick to our gameplan and play how we play, I'm sure we can get another result."
Manchester United's Transfer Decision and Future Prospects
Sancho's comments come as recent reports confirm that Manchester United have opted against retaining the Villa loanee and are prepared to release him as a free agent this summer. The winger originally signed a five-year deal with United in 2021 after a £73 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund, but his tenure in Manchester did not unfold as planned.
United attempted to offload Sancho permanently in both 2024 and 2025 but were unable to secure a buyer, resulting in loan arrangements instead. With his contract set to expire at the end of June, securing his next move is expected to be more straightforward.
Emery's Perspective on a Potential Permanent Move
Unai Emery has recently hinted at the possibility of making Sancho's temporary spell at Villa Park a permanent arrangement. The Spanish manager stated: "Not yet, but he is a fantastic player. Hopefully he can help us by increasing his qualities in our structure like he is doing. He will need another contract, and maybe it could be here. If he plays his best football, we will want him. But also other teams could be involved in the interest for him. The first part of the season was not enough. He was working and trying, but not achieving the performance we needed. Now he is getting better. He is getting the challenge for him and us."
