'He said so many great things' - Rashford and Emery convinced Sancho to join Aston Villa

The forward has found it difficult at Manchester United to hit the ground running since joining the club for a massive fee.

His poor performance led to a rift with former manager Erik ten Hag, leading to him being asked to leave the club.

The England international was able to secure a move to Aston Villa for the remainder of the season before the close of the transfer window.

Before signing his contract, he spoke with Barcelona forward Marcus Rashford, who spent last season on loan at the Birmingham club.

"I spoke with Rashford when he was here last year and I know he really enjoyed it. He said so many great things about the club: that there's a friendly atmosphere here."

"Unai Emery showed me the plan for the year and inspired me. That definitely convinced me to join the club," Sancho was quoted as saying by Aston Villa's press office, via Sportal.

The winger spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Chelsea. He made 42 appearances across all competitions, scoring 5 goals and providing 10 assists.