Revealed: Can Jadon Sancho can play vs Manchester United during Chelsea loan?

Jadon Sancho made a shock loan move to Chelsea in the summer window after a miserable spell at Manchester United.

Manchester United signed Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund for over £70 million in the summer of 2021. It was a long-awaited transfer which excited the majority of United fans.

But things just didn’t work out the way people expected. Sancho couldn’t settle into the team under Ole Gunnar Solskjær before his dismissal and had a fractured relationship with Erik ten Hag.

The winger accused Ten Hag of making him a scapegoat after he explained that Sancho’s training performances were the reason why he was left out of a matchday squad at the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

Sancho was then exiled from the first-team squad, forced to play in the Academy until he apologised. That did not happen.

He was re-introduced into the first-team setup for the 2024 pre-season after he appeared to work things out with Ten Hag, but a summer move looked nailed on.

Despite the initial interest coming from abroad, it was a last-minute move from Chelsea which ended up being Sancho’s destination. He is on an initial loan at Stamford Bridge with the London-based club having an obligation to buy the player.

Sancho started the season well for Chelsea, assisting three goals in his first three games, but has since missed three consecutive games for the Blues. The latest was down to illness, while the prior two were ‘tactical’, according to Enzo Maresca.

Now, ahead of the game between United and Chelsea this weekend, some are unsure on whether Sancho will be eligible to play.

Can Jadon Sancho play vs Man United?

According to Premier League regulations, Sancho will not be eligible to play against United in either of the league fixtures this season, despite the obligation-to-buy clause in his loan contract.

United face Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday 3 November, while they travel to Stamford Bridge later in the season, currently scheduled for 18 May 2025.

However, rules state that the winger may be able to face United in domestic competition. Since he has only played in the Community Shield for the Reds this season, he is not cup tied for the other domestic cups.

Chelsea were knocked out in the Carabao Cup fourth-round against Newcastle, so the only remaining competition where he may be able to face his parent club is in the FA Cup.

United and Chelsea are also in separate European tournaments, with the new UEFA format stopping clubs from dropping down competitions. Maresca’s side are in the Conference League while the Reds are competing in the Europa League.

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