Sancho released by Manchester United as £148m trio depart on free transfers

Manchester United have released Jadon Sancho on a free transfer, ending a five-year spell that cost the club £73m and yielded just 83 appearances, 12 goals, and six assists. The club opted not to activate a one-year contract extension option that could have preserved some resale value.

Sancho departs alongside Casemiro and Tyrell Malacia, meaning three players signed for a combined £148m will all leave Old Trafford without generating a transfer fee. Sancho remains United’s fourth-most expensive signing in their history.

The 25-year-old has not played a Premier League game for United in almost three years, following a public falling-out with then-manager Erik ten Hag in the summer of 2023. Ten Hag dropped Sancho from the squad for a match at Arsenal, citing his training performances; Sancho responded publicly by accusing the manager of making him a scapegoat. Neither party backed down, and Sancho was banished from first-team training before rejoining Borussia Dortmund on loan in January 2024. His sole United appearance since August 2023 came in the 2024 Community Shield.

Sancho subsequently spent loan spells at Dortmund, Chelsea, and Aston Villa, reaching European finals with all three clubs in successive seasons — the Champions League final with Dortmund, the Conference League final with Chelsea, and the Conference League final with Villa, winning the latter two. Chelsea triggered a £5m penalty clause in their loan agreement to avoid a permanent purchase, while Villa are not expected to sign him after he started just nine league games under Unai Emery.

Dortmund have indicated they are interested in signing Sancho for a third time this summer.

Casemiro, 34, had already confirmed he would leave after four years at the club. The Brazilian midfielder joined from Real Madrid for £63m and scored 26 goals in 160 appearances, playing a significant role in United’s third-place finish this season.

Malacia, signed for £12m under Ten Hag, made only 11 appearances across his last three seasons at the club after injury disrupted his time at Old Trafford following a promising debut campaign in which he featured 39 times.