Free-agent Sancho targeted by Dubai club Arabian Falcons as career search continues

Jadon Sancho is being targeted by Dubai-based Arabian Falcons, who are preparing a formal approach for the free-agent winger after he was left without a club following his release by Manchester United at the end of June.

The Falcons, managed by former Liverpool and England midfielder Jonjo Shelvey and featuring ex-Leicester City Premier League winner Danny Simpson as a player-coach, are plotting an ambitious push to sign several high-profile free agents. The club have already persuaded former United prodigy Ravel Morrison to move to the Middle East — he signed last summer and has since been named club captain.

Sancho’s summer has been a difficult one. Aston Villa, who took him on loan last season, opted against making the move permanent after he contributed just one goal and three assists in 39 appearances under Unai Emery. He did, however, collect a Europa League winners’ medal at Villa Park. Before that, a permanent move to Chelsea — who had him on loan from January 2024 — also fell through, with the Blues paying a £5m penalty fee to United to exit a £25m purchase obligation.

The 25-year-old’s recent history reads as a series of near-misses. He returned to Borussia Dortmund on loan in January 2024, five years after United signed him from the German club for £72.9m, and played in the Champions League final at Wembley — a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid. Dortmund then declined to sign him permanently.

Links to Serie A clubs Fiorentina and Roma came to nothing over the summer, and a reported interest from Brazilian side Palmeiras also failed to materialise, leaving Sancho among a group of prominent players still searching for a new home.

The Falcons are hoping the appeal of tax-free earnings in Dubai, combined with the club’s facilities, will be enough to attract Sancho. The forward has a prior connection to the city, having previously travelled there to recover from injuries. Former England team-mate Raheem Sterling is among the other high-profile free agents who also remain unattached after the summer window closed.