Credit: Imago

Chris Smith

Mon 18 August 2025 13:01, UK

Roma have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey following a shock U-turn from Jadon Sancho.

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The Giallorossi have been on the lookout for attacking reinforcements as they look to improve on their fifth-place finish in Serie A last season.

Roma were thought to be making progress in signing out-of-favour winger Sancho from Manchester United, with the two clubs recently agreeing a deal.

However, that move is now in tatters, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the player had rejected the proposal on offer from the Italian giants — while also keeping Turkish powerhouses Besiktas on standby.

Sancho’s decision will come as a source of frustration for Manchester United, who are trying to clear out some unwanted players after a heavy summer spend.

The Red Devils are still trying to sign Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, and are understood to be considering offering Sancho to the Seagulls as part of that deal — so hopefully, a solution is on the horizon.

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As for Roma, they already have their solution, with Matteo Moretto reporting (17 August) that a deal for Aston Villa star Bailey is ‘very close’.

The two clubs are now ‘working out final details’ on a transfer following positive talks between Roma and Bailey’s agent.

Should the deal be concluded, Bailey will represent Aston Villa’s second major outgoing in quick succession after Jacob Ramsey joined Newcastle United.

Bailey’s future was always thought to be tied to the outcome of the Sancho saga, and now the Jamaica international — who managed just two goals and four assists in 38 appearances across all competitions last season — can prepare for a new challenge.

Jadon Sancho’s stats in the 2024/25 season.

(Credit: Imago)

Football Insider verdict

The Turkish transfer window doesn’t close until September 11th, leaving Besiktas as a failsafe option for Sancho if he needs it.

However, the winger is running out of time to find his ideal move and rejecting Roma may turn out to be a big mistake.

Sancho earns £250,000 per week according to Capology, making him United’s third-highest-paid player, and it’s thought he is holding out to see how close he can get to that salary with another club.

But it’s a difficult ask to persuade a club to pay that much to a player who has a record of just 20 goals and 19 assists in 145 appearances since leaving Dortmund in 2021, while he’s been loaned away from Old Trafford for the last 18 months.

At Roma, Sancho could have found a home where he would be a protagonist once again, playing Europa League football for a team with designs on returning to the Champions League.

Now, he has left himself scrambling for another solution, with an unfancied move to Besiktas his only back-up if other European options don’t work out.

Sancho could live to regret this decision.

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