Jadon Sancho has made his second debut for Borussia Dortmund following his loan move from Manchester United during Saturday’s Bundesliga win over Darmstadt 98.
The 23-year-old came on after 55 minutes at the Merck-Stadion am Bollenfalltor in place of fellow former Manchester City youth product Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and marked his return to action with an assist in a 3-0 victory.
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His 35-minute substitute appearance was his first since sealing a return to the club he left in a €85million transfer in July 2021 on Thursday.
Sancho will spend the remainder of the season in the Bundesliga with Dortmund contributing the majority of his salary.
Head coach Edin Terzic hinted on Friday that Sancho could play a part against Darmstadt and included him in his squad for Saturday’s Bundesliga game.
He was introduced 10 minutes into the second period with Dortmund leading 1-0 thanks to Julian Brandt’s first-half opener.
Sancho played a major role in doubling his side’s advantage on 77 minutes, racing behind the Darmstadt back line, latching onto Donyell Malen’s through ball and picking out the unmarked Marco Reus for a simple finish with a low cross from the right.
Youssoufa Moukoko added a third for Dortmund in stoppage time.
Saturday’s match was Sancho’s first appearance since a Premier League win over Nottingham Forest on August 26.
The England international was effectively banished from first-team training with United since September after refusing to apologise to Erik ten Hag following a dispute around his involvement in the defeat at Arsenal.
United explored selling him to Saudi Arabia before the summer transfer window closed before he secured a move back to Germany in January.
Sancho enjoyed a hugely successful first spell at Dortmund, including winning the German Supercup and DFB-Pokal, between 2017 and 2021.
Dortmund sit fifth following Saturday’s win and are next in action against Koln on January 20.
How did Sancho fare on his second Dortmund debut?
Dortmund may have been winning at half-time but they were pretty awful to watch against the Bundesliga’s worst team in Darmstadt (who had more possession in the first half), but even still it was a bit of a surprise to see Sancho sent on just 10 minutes after the break given his lack of football lately (only three substitute appearances this season, all back in August).
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He certainly didn’t look like a player who has barely played in almost five months. Sure he was understandably a bit rusty with the odd poor touch and pass, but he was full of running, he constantly looked to break through the Darmstadt back line and run at defenders, he was an outlet on both the left and the right and he helped out defensively.
He capped off a promising second Dortmund debut with an assist, teeing up Marco Reus for a tap-in to secure the points. Sancho looks happy again — and he looks at home.
Sancho: ‘It’s felt like home’
Sancho said his target for the second-half of the season is to “just be happy again” after returning to Dortmund on loan following five months out of the United first team.
When asked about his personal goals following Dortmund’s 3-0 win over Darmstadt, the winger told Sky Sports: “Just to be happy again, just to be back on the pitch. To help the team, get them back in the top three and qualify for the Champions League for next year. I’ve got personal goals that I’m not going to say for now, but I just want to help the team.”
He continued: “Ever since I’ve come back, it’s felt like home, and I’m just happy to be on the pitch again.”
Reus was a teammate of Sancho’s during his first spell at Dortmund, with the pair winning the 2019 DFL-Supercup and 2021 DFB-Pokal together. The 34-year-old was the recipient of the on-loan United man’s cross for Dortmund’s third.
“I just feel like it was meant to be,” Sancho said of his assist. “Me coming back and seeing Marco again, he’s a great friend of mine and I just appreciate him and I’m happy to set up his goal today.”
GO DEEPERInside Jadon Sancho's exile and exit: What went wrong for him at Manchester United(Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Tim Spiers is a football journalist for The Athletic, based in London and covering Tottenham Hotspur. He joined in 2019 having previously worked at the Express & Star in Wolverhampton. Follow Tim on Twitter @TimSpiers
