- Jadon Sancho has revealed that two Chelsea legends were his idols growing up in his first interview since signing for the Blues.
Sancho completed a move to Chelsea on deadline day, joining the club on an initial loan deal which could become permanent at the end of the season.
The 24-year-old had been frozen out at Manchester United last season following a public falling out with manager Erik ten Hag.
Their dispute led to Sancho returning to Borussia Dortmund on loan for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign, though he had been welcomed back by Ten Hag in pre-season after clearing the air with the United manager.
Now, though, he has returned to London, where he grew up, to sign as a Chelsea player, and spoke to the club to reveal who his idols were.
‘Chelsea is iconic,’ Sancho said. ‘My idols growng up were Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard.
‘Now I have the opportunity to play for this club, it’s a great feeling. It’s going to be nice.’
Sancho is one of dozens of players contracted to Chelsea, who were keen to offload some of their stars in the closing days and hours of the transfer window.
The former United man, however, was one that went the other way, and he revealed what persuaded him to make the move despite earning a somewhat fresh start at Old Trafford.
‘I think it’s the manager,’ he said, explaining the main reason why he swapped clubs. ‘I knew him from when I was at Manchester City and when he was with Pep [Guardiola].
‘He spoke to me on the phone about his project and what he was building here and, for a young player like myself, it’s exciting.
‘They are signing me for a reason. I think it is his style of play, the wingers. When they get on the ball, he loves them to go 1v1 and be direct. They play a lot of one-twos with the 10s and striker, so it’s very attractive.’
The price cut that United surrendered to offload Sancho, meanwhile, has been revealed after the Red Devils budged in their demands in order to conclude a deal.
According to The Athletic, the Red Devils had reportedly been holding out for a £40million fee for Sancho during the summer transfer window.
It would have represented a major discount on the £73m fee paid by Man United to sign him from Dortmund in 2021.
Chelsea, however, reportedly made a move for Sancho on deadline day as Man United reduced their demands for the winger.
The Blues are expected to pay £23million to make Sancho’s move permanent next summer, with the fee depending on performance related add-ons. The sum would represent a reduction of around £17million from Man United’s initial demands.