Sancho can't wait to 'play with a smile' after sealing Dortmund return

Jadon Sancho has ended his doomed Manchester United spell by returning to former club Borussia Dortmund on loan.

United signed the 23-year-old winger from the German giants for £73million in July 2021 but he never hit his stride, managing just 12 goals and six assists in 82 appearances across all competitions.

And he had been frozen out of the first team entirely after claiming manager Erik ten Hag had lied to the media about his efforts in training following a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal last September.

On his return to Signal Iduna Park, Sancho said: "When I walked into the changing room today, it felt like coming home.

"I know the club inside out, I've always been very close to the fans here and I've never lost contact with the people in charge.

"I can't wait to see my team-mates again, get out on the pitch, play football with a smile on my face, get assists, score goals and help the club qualify for the Champions League."

The Red Devils wrote in a club statement: "Jadon Sancho has re-joined former club Borussia Dortmund on loan until the end of the season.

"Sancho will now return to Germany on a temporary basis as Dortmund prepare to resume their Bundesliga campaign after a winter break. 

"The England international of 23 caps leaves with our best wishes for the remainder of this season."

Sancho first joined Dortmund from Manchester City in 2017, scoring 50 goals and assisting 64 more in 137 appearances.

The London native won the DFB-Pokal with BVB in 2020-21 and netted twice in the 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig in the final.

Sancho also broke into the England squad during his first spell in the Bundesliga, with Gareth Southgate handing him his Three Lions debut in a 0-0 draw with Croatia back in October 2018.

He will be hoping to recapture the form that saw him considered one of the brightest prospects in world football with Euro 2024 on the horizon.