Jadon Sancho: "I want to make history with Dortmund"

Sancho has caught the eye with some electric individual performances since leaving English Premier League club Manchester City in search of regular first-team football in 2017, registering six goals and seven assists in 17 league appearances this term alone.

Despite growing interest in his talents, the 18-year-old England international is only interested in helping Bundesliga leaders Dortmund to dethrone defending champions Bayern Munich and get their hands on a first league title since 2012.

"I'm staying at Dortmund," Sancho told journalists on Thursday. "I just want to play football and I'm getting that opportunity here. I'm very grateful to Dortmund for giving me this chance. I want to keep working hard and I'm happy to be a part of this club and want to make history with it."

Watch: A closer look at what make Jadon Sancho so effective

Sancho has already done that. He is the youngest Englishman and first for BVB to score in the Bundesliga; the first player born in the 2000s to score a Bundesliga brace and the youngest to do so for Dortmund; as well as the youngest English player in history to make his UEFA Champions League debut for a club outside of England. A raft of milestones - all of which fully vindicate his decision to move abroad.

"There were some people that said they weren't really sure about me coming to Germany because it's a big step moving away from home and everyone that I'm close to, but I think it's worked out really well," he said modestly. "Obviously when I first came it was a bit difficult because I'm not around the corner from my house. But my family have helped me with that – and the club also.

"The language worried me quite a lot, but when I came and everyone started speaking English I got more comfortable. My German isn't the best, but I'm learning, I have to learn. Overall, I've adapted really well."

Sancho's seamless transition from youth player at Man City to Dortmund stalwart has also earned him his first senior international caps with England, and he credits BVB for the opportunity.

"Playing for England is something I'll never forgot, I need to thank Dortmund for that," said Sancho, who made three appearances for UEFA Nations League finalists England last autumn. "Without this opportunity I wouldn't have made my debut. When I came on at Wembley I was relaxed. Dortmund has really helped me."

Now it's Sancho's turn to return the favour. Dortmund are six points clear of Bayern at the head of the Bundesliga table at the halfway stage, with the best attack in the league. The Black-Yellows have only lost once domestically all season, but Sancho knows any further slip-ups could prove costly in the club's pursuit of silverware.

"My aim for the second half of the season is just to maintain and try to get points because we know Bayern are right behind us and other teams are looking to take points off us," he warned. "We had a point to prove after [finishing fourth] last season. We weren't at our best. Now we are and we're top of the league, but we have to keep working hard. Everyone gives their best - we fight until the end."

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