Jadon Sancho has said that he is excited to join the Chelsea ‘project’ after signing for the club from Manchester United on an initial loan deal that is obligated to be made permanent next summer.

The 24-year-old completed is move to west London from Old Trafford on Saturday after the clubs thrashed out a late deal for the player on transfer deadline day.

Sources have told ESPN that Chelsea have not paid a loan fee and that Chelsea will cover the majority of Sancho’s wages for this season. The transfer fee could reach £25 million ($32.8m) depending on Chelsea’s success this season.

“I’m really excited to be here. London is where I grew up and I’m happy to be back,” Sancho said in a statement.

“The manager spoke to me about the project and, for a young player, it’s exciting. Hopefully I can bring goals and assists to the Bridge.”

Sancho joined United from Borussia Dortmund in an €85m deal following a protracted transfer saga in July 2023. He failed to replicate the form he showed in Germany and made only 83 appearances for United, scoring just 12 goals and providing six assists.

The forward, who is looking to rebuild his career after a difficult few years, has not featured in a competitive game for United in more than 12 months and was left out of Erik ten Hag’s squad for the first two Premier League games.

Sancho spent the second half of last season on loan at former club Dortmund after being exiled from United’s first team squad following a public row with Ten Hag. He was an integral part of the Dortmund team that reached the Champions League final at Wembley in July. They lost 2-0 to Real Madrid in the final at Wembley.

The former Watford and Manchester City youth product has earned 23 senior England caps, but has not played for his country since 2021 and was not included in Gareth Southgate’s squads for both the World Cup in 2022 and the European Championship in Germany this summer.

Information from ESPN’s Rob Dawson contributed to this report