Manchester United have confirmed that they have reached an agreement in principle to sign Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho.
The Red Devils announced the news on their official website on Thursday afternoon. Indeed, they followed Dortmund, who announced the deal earlier in the day. The confirmation ends a transfer chase lasting over 12 months, but United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer finally has his man.
The club’s statement read: “Manchester United is delighted to announce it has reached an agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund for the transfer of Jadon Sancho.
“The signing is subject to contractual terms and a medical, which will be completed after Jadon’s involvement in the UEFA European Championship.”
United had long had an interest in the ex-Manchester City academy product. However, those links intensified last summer, following Sancho’s 40 goal contributions overall in 2019/20.
Nevertheless, Dortmund would not budge from its £108million valuation. Amid the height of the coronavirus pandemic, United refused to fork out such a fee.
Furthermore, the Red Devils missed the August 10 deadline Dortmund set for the deal to go through.
The Bundesliga giants did not set such a strict deadline this time around and the fact that Sancho had eaten into another year of his contract gave United further ground to rekindle interest.
Old Trafford football director John Murtough talked with Solskjaer soon after United’s Europa League final defeat to Villarreal.
Sancho is currently at Euro 2020 with England but has yet to play a minute at the tournament.