United Jettison Sancho, Onana, Maguire in Three Separate Deals
Sancho expressed a desire to remain in London and got his wish with a move to Arsenal.
Manchester, England — Manchester United have confirmed three major outgoing transfers as part of their January 2025 restructuring, with Jadon Sancho, André Onana, and Harry Maguire all departing Old Trafford in deals worth a combined £73 million.
Jadon Sancho completes a high-profile move to Arsenal for £36 million, ending a turbulent chapter in Manchester. While United had reintegrated him as a central midfielder under Rúben Amorim, the player’s long-standing preference to remain in London, where he had flourished earlier in his youth career, ultimately drove the move. Arsenal presented both a stylistic fit and a return to familiar surroundings, making the transfer appealing for all parties.
Goalkeeper André Onana has joined Newcastle United for £25 million, closing a difficult 18-month spell marked by inconsistency and mounting criticism. After a series of high-profile errors and a collapse in confidence, Onana lost his starting place to newly signed Lucas Perri, whose arrival accelerated the Cameroonian’s exit.
Meanwhile, Harry Maguire has signed for Atlético Madrid in a £12 million deal, seeking a fresh start after becoming surplus to requirements in United’s new 3-5-2 system. The switch to a back three exposed Maguire’s lack of pace, limiting his opportunities under Amorim. At Atlético, however, his aerial dominance and penalty-box defending could make him a strong fit for Diego Simeone’s compact 4-4-2, in a league where tempo and transitional speed are less punishing.
The departures reflect a club moving decisively toward a new tactical and cultural identity — younger, faster, more South American–influenced — as the Amorim era takes shape.
B. Fernandes (MUN)
D. Dalot (MUN)
N. Raskin (RAN)