Who is the Aston Villa player that has reached three different European finals in each of the last three seasons?
Updated 08/05/2026 at 00:15 GMT+1
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This winger has endured a somewhat nomadic few years since bursting onto the scene. But if his recent track record is anything to go by, his presence at a club brings about European success.
Highlights: Villa into Europa League final after Forest hammering
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On Thursday, this player was part of the Aston Villa side who blew away Nottingham Forest 4-0 in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final, winning 4-1 on aggregate and booking their spot in the final in Istanbul on May 20.
He came off the bench in the 86th minute, replacing Emiliano Buendia with Villa already four goals to the good.
And the result on Thursday means that for each of the last three seasons, the winger has reached the final of a different European competition.
That man is...Jadon Sancho.
The 26-year-old completed his trilogy feat while on loan at Villa from Manchester United this season, making 12 appearances, scoring once and providing one assist on the way to the final.
Last season, he was part of the Chelsea team who beat Real Betis in the final of the UEFA Conference League, including scoring in both the final and the semi-final.
And in the 2023/24 season, Sancho returned to Borussia Dortmund on loan in January after a turbulent time at United and helped the German side reach the final of the UEFA Champions League.
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'Need my suncream!' - McGinn looks ahead to Istanbul and revels in 'best ever' Villa Park display
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Sancho started every one of Dortmund's knockout games on their run through the competition, including playing 87 minutes of 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the final at Wembley.
Sancho is 1-1 in his European finals so far, and will be hoping to improve on that record in Turkey later this month.
On Thursday though, it was Villa stalwart John McGinn who was the star of the show, scoring twice in three minutes to catapult his side past Forest.
A bandaged Ollie Watkins had given the home side the lead midway through the first half when he found the net from a sublime assist by Emi Buendia.
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Buendia then doubled their tally when converting a penalty after a foul by Nikola Milenkovic on Pau Torres in the 58th minute.
But it was McGinn who sealed the deal for his club, scoring two superb goals in the 77th and 80th minutes with Watkins and Morgan Rogers providing the assists.
Forest looked toothless compared to the home side, and were outclassed by Villa, who piled on the pressure throughout to deservedly take their place in the final.
Sancho broke through the ranks at Borussia Dortmund having started his youth career at Manchester City.
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Watkins: 'Everyone's mind' was on Forest second leg
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In his first full season as a regular starter for Dortmund, Sancho finished with 13 goals and 20 assists in all competitions.
He went even better the following season, racking up 20 goals and 20 assists 2019/20 and then 16 goals and 20 assists in 2020/21.
His form caught the attention of plenty of big clubs across Europe, but he eventually signed for United for a deal worth around ÂŁ73 million.
But he struggled to find his footing in Manchester, spending loan spells at Dortmund, Chelsea and Aston Villa over the last three campaigns.
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