Jadon Sancho did agree to a pay cut to join Chelsea, as he completed his move late on the transfer deadline day from Manchester United.
According to Fabrizio Romano on Caught Offside, Jadon Sancho took a pay cut to join Chelsea on transfer deadline day from Manchester United. The winger’s future at Old Trafford looked uncertain until the very end of the window, and he opted to reduce his salary in order to play for his boyhood club.
Jadon Sancho took pay cut to join Chelsea
The Jadon Sancho story is a fascinating one from the start. Coming through the Manchester City academy, the then-exciting winger wanted to play regularly, so he took the opportunity to join Borussia Dortmund. In Germany, he played the best football of his career so far, and that earned him a big move to Manchester United.
The Red Devils paid 73 million to seal the transfer in 2021, and despite early promise, the winger was a flop at Old Trafford. Last season, after an early fallout with Erik ten Hag, Sancho never played for the club and was immediately shipped off back to Dortmund on loan, where he helped the team to the Champions League Final.
As the summer approached, his future was very much uncertain despite reports stating that the 24-year-old and Ten Hag had cleared their differences. The manager’s selection patterns gave a better picture of where Sancho stands in the pecking order, as a move before the window shut made more sense for the player as well as the club.
Chelsea agreed on a loan deal to sign Sancho from Manchester United on deadline day, as the hours leading to the deadline saw the two clubs advance in discussions. The deal comes with an obligation to buy for 20 million, rising to 25 million with add-ons. However, Fabrizio Romano has now reported that the 24-year-old took a pay cut to join the Blues, as a deal was not possible without that aspect.
“Man United just wanted to move on from Sancho as they understood the player only wanted to leave. This is why they accepted this solution but are still in their condition.
“So it all started from the player as he really wanted to join Chelsea, it was his priority, and the player indeed reduced his salary for this move, as it was the only way to make it happen.”
Chelsea’s new wage structure
Chelsea have opted to have a new incentive-based wage structure at the club. All recent arrivals have come to terms with the same, where they pay a relatively modest average basic wage, with the rest structured based on performance-based bonuses. Sancho’s reported salary at Manchester United was massive, and they would not have let Chelsea sign him.
Without a pay cut, it would have been impossible for Chelsea to sign the player, as his old wages do not fit into their system. With Sancho willing to take a pay cut, it indicates that he i focused more on playing football, especially for his boyhood club, Chelsea, rather than keeping the uncertainty surrounding his career alive.
