The English Football Association FA have confirmed it will investigate claims that Manchester City made an illegal payment of £200,000 to Jadon Sancho’s agent as part of his move from Watford in 2015.
Leaked emails published by German newspaper Der Spiegel suggest City attempted to hide the payment to Emeka Obasi by offering him a scouting contract. They claim that Obasi was given a remit to scout for players in Central and South America. Der Spiegel published an internal email from a City employee, which stated the ‘scouting services agreement’ is actually ‘in relation to Jadon and his agent Emeka’, and the £200,000 figure appeared in an internal Manchester City table under the heading ‘Agent Fee’.
City may also be in breach of rules banning incentives or inducements for players under 16. In addition – under FA and Fifa rules – agents are not permitted to represent players until the year they turn 16. At the time of the transfer, Sancho was just 14. Speaking to the Times, an FA spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm that we will be investigating the allegations.’ Sancho left City for Borussia Dortmund in 2017 – in a bid to seek regular first-team football.
The 18-year-old’s time in Germany has proved a roaring success so far as Dortmund sit top of the Bundesliga this season. The winger has scored eight goals and provided 10 assists for Lucien Favre’s side – with his feats having earned him his first England caps.
