Ole Gunnar Solskjaer talks about achieving “Next Steps,” Sancho excited to be at “Iconic club”

It is FINALLY official: Jadon Sancho is a Manchester United player.

Sancho has many admirers in the football world, and among his first was reportedly Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. It was reported by the Telegraph that Ole named Sancho as a future target as early as his period as interim boss in December, 2018. He spoke with the club for the transfer announcement about just how exciting a player Sancho is, and why the club have tried for so long to secure his services.

“As it’s been known all over the world, we’ve followed Jadon for a long, long time,” Solskjaer said. “He’s a player that we’ve targeted and we think his qualities will fit right in.”

Sancho’s skills as a winger will prove useful in finding an answer on the right hand side, but he is more than capable of playing in behind the striker or on the left, where he played for much of the past couple seasons at Borussia Dortmund. He helped the Black and Yellow to a DFB Pokal title playing alongside forward phenom Erling Haaland, and Solskjaer is hopeful that his talents will help bring silverware back to Old Trafford.

“He’s [Sancho] got that DNA of exciting fans and entertaining, and he’s also a winner. He wants to win and that’s the next step for us,” Solskjaer said. “We need to take the next step, we want to take the next step, and we feel that he can help us do that.”

Manchester United haven’t won a trophy since the 2017 UEFA Europa League Final, losing in the FA Cup Final in 2018 and most recently the 2021 UEFA Europa League Final against Villarreal. Solskjaer is already expected to start delivering silverware, and the arrival of a marquee signing like Sancho will reinforce those expectations. With more hopefully on the way (in the form of Raphael Varane and a midfielder) this could be Solskjaer’s most impactful transfer window yet, and it’s a statement of intent from club as a whole to create a team capable of challenging for and winning titles once again.

Jadon Sancho weighed in on the move as well, excited about the opportunity to represent such a historic club:

“It’s an honor [to be a United player]. Growing up Manchester United was one of the biggest clubs. That’s what it’s known for, and obviously all the trophies they’ve won, the iconic players that came before me. I’m happy to be wearing the jersey now.”

Sancho also spoke about his mentality on and off the pitch, his appreciation for the fans, and his influences, naming Wayne Rooney and Ronaldinho. Perhaps most importantly though, he shares Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s ambition for winning.

“That’s one of the reasons I came to Manchester, because I can see the development that’s going on here and I want to be a part of it, especially because it’s such an iconic club,” Sancho said. “To be a part of it is kind of a dream come true.”

A dream come true indeed.

The future is exciting at Manchester United, and finally Jadon Sancho is a part of it.