Non-league side Flixton have moved to quash speculation linking them to former Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho, insisting he was at their ground only for a private training session — not a trial.

The North West Counties club released a statement on Instagram after Sancho was spotted using their facilities, setting off a wave of social media chatter about a possible signing that would rank among the most remarkable in recent football history.

Setting the record straight

"To clarify, Jadon was not on trial with the club and was not involved in any transfer discussions," Flixton wrote. "He simply used our facilities for a private training session to maintain his fitness while preparing for the next chapter of his career."

The club were, however, full of praise for Sancho's conduct during the visit. "After completing his session, he happily met with young supporters, posed for photos, signed autographs, and left a lasting impression on everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him," the statement continued.

Flixton described Sancho, 26, as "nothing but professional, humble, and generous with his time," adding that he "deserves respect both for his accomplishments and the way he conducted himself during his visit, not the unwarranted criticism that has followed."

Sancho's career in limbo

Sancho is currently a free agent after Manchester United allowed his contract to expire in June. His time at Old Trafford was defined as much by a high-profile falling-out with then manager Erik ten Hag as it was by his performances on the pitch. That dispute led to three separate loan spells — at Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, and Aston Villa — though he returned to United each time.

Despite the turbulence, Sancho picked up notable honours during those temporary moves. He scored in Chelsea's UEFA Europa Conference League final victory in 2025 and was part of Aston Villa's UEFA Europa League-winning squad last season — two pieces of silverware United could only watch from the sidelines.

United had signed Sancho from Borussia Dortmund for £73 million in 2021. He had originally left Manchester City's academy to join Dortmund back in 2017, making the move that would launch him onto Europe's biggest stage.

Sancho himself appeared relaxed during his time at Flixton, sharing a video alongside club manager Alex Mortimer. Taking in the surroundings on his first visit to the area, he offered a grinning verdict on the facilities: "You've got a nice layout, I must say — it's the first time I've seen a nice pitch, apart from United and City."

Where Sancho's next permanent move takes him remains to be seen, but Flixton were keen to make one thing clear: their modest ground was a pitstop, not a destination.