Atlético Madrid want Jadon Sancho – the 26-year-old English winger is clubless, and Borussia Dortmund are also trying to lure him back to Germany.
Atlético Madrid have set their eyes on Sancho as one of their main priorities in the summer transfer window. The plan is to welcome him as a free agent – but Borussia Dortmund are also keeping a close eye on the situation.
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Sancho is currently without a club and is passionate about securing his future quickly to get started with the pre-season. Since he is out of contract, clubs can negotiate directly with the player without a transfer fee.
Atlético want to capitalize on the free status
The Madrid club see Sancho’s contract status as a real possibility. A transfer will not require negotiations with a selling club – only an agreement on wages, signing bonuses and contract length.
The player himself wants to get back to team training as soon as possible. Every week without a club reduces the chances of reaching the physical level required in a squad that is already preparing for the new season.
The Atlético management wants to put a deal in place before new offers emerge. The salary will be a key point in the negotiations – especially given that his salary level has affected several transfers in England in the past.
Sancho wants to give Atlético an option on both sides. He has played on both the right and left sides during his stints at Manchester United, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund.
Borussia Dortmund competes for Sancho
Atlético’s biggest competitor is Borussia Dortmund – the club where Sancho has delivered his best performances. The Englishman has had two spells at the German club and knows both the sporting structure and the Bundesliga well.
His first spell at Dortmund ended in 2021 with a move to Manchester United for around €85 million. Then he returned on loan in the second half of the 2023/24 season.
The mutual relationship of trust means that a second stay in Germany is still a possibility. But Dortmund must also come to an agreement with the player – who is free to choose his destination without club-by-club negotiations.
The German competition is pushing Atlético to pick up the pace. Sancho wants to quickly settle into a new club to rebuild his match form in training and be ready for the start of the season.
Salary determines the transfer
The absence of a transfer fee does not mean that the agreement is free of charge. Atlético must cover annual salary, any signing bonus and other costs associated with the agreement.
The length of the contract will also play a role. The club will have to balance the salary costs with offering the player stability after several short stints at Dortmund, Chelsea and Aston Villa.
For Atlético, this is a market chance – but they need to put the personal terms in place before Dortmund make a final offer.
The next step is to define a contract proposal. Atlético Madrid wants to stay ahead of the competition – while Sancho himself hopes to get his future in place quickly, so he can join his new coach’s training.
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