Doubts about the character
Werder Bremen refused to transfer Jadon Sancho
09.08.2025 – 6:41 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
At BVB, Jadon Sancho, as a teenager, was one of the Bundesliga’s vertical starters. But almost the offensive player would not have landed in Dortmund – but in Bremen.
Football clubs deal with hundreds of players every season who would like to sign – or rather leave it. Sometimes the clubs are just right with their transfers, sometimes they leave great chances. The latter was apparently passed by Werder Bremen a few years ago with a later shooting star from Borussia Dortmund.
For almost ten years, Tim Steidten worked in the scouting area of Werder Bremen, initially in the youth area, later (2017 to 2019) as a sporting director at the professionals. In the “Bild” podcast “Stammplatz”, the 46-year-old has now dropped a special anecdote: Jadon Sancho almost worn the green and white jersey.
Werder wanted to borrow Sancho when he was still a promising talent in Manchester City’s youth. “And at the time I talked to the family, talked to the player and then looked at a few games,” said Steidten.
But it was not the sporty talent of the British winger, the then Werder boss remained in the head, but doubts about the character. “Somehow that of his appearance, of his mentality, was a bit over for an association like Werder Bremen,” said the 46-year-old. However, the club would have preferred to look for a kicker that could better get involved in the team structure.
Werder Bremen finally refrained from a Sancho loan. The then 17-year-old ended up in the Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund struck and the super talent cost 20.5 million euros in August 2017. Jadon Sancho finally wore black and yellow until 2021, scored 50 goals and 54 templates in 137 competitive games and became a farewell DFB Cup winner. Subsequently, Manchester United transferred 85 million euros to BVB – a successful deal.