Rashford Joins Barcelona on Loan with £26m Buy Option

Barcelona have secured the signing of Marcus Rashford on a season-long loan from Manchester United, with an option to buy. The forward joins the Catalan side after a difficult stint under Ruben Amorim at his childhood club.

“I want to win the biggest trophies, and I feel like Barcelona is a huge club in the football world, so it is the perfect place for me,” Rashford stated during his official unveiling at the Spanish club. “Last season, Barcelona showcased a young and ambitious team, and I aim to contribute my qualities and personality to help them succeed.”

In additional remarks to the club’s media, Rashford expressed, “It’s a club where people’s dreams come true, and they win major trophies. What the club stands for truly resonates with me. It feels like home, which played a significant role in my decision to join.”

Rashford was among five United players who trained separately from Amorim’s squad this summer. The England international, who had a loan spell at Aston Villa during the second half of last season, trained at a gym in Salford and at United’s Carrington training ground, albeit only after first-team players had departed.

Rashford, aged 27, is under contract at Old Trafford for another three years, earning £325,000 weekly. If he moves, he would become the tenth player ever to represent both United and Barcelona, following in the footsteps of Mark Hughes, Laurent Blanc, Henrik Larsson, Jordi Cruyff, Gerard Piqué, Víctor Valdés, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexis Sánchez, and Memphis Depay.

Barcelona announced, “The player has signed his contract as a Barça player this afternoon during a private meeting attended by FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta, the football director, and other board members.”

Rashford remarked, “From the very start, I was clear about my preferences. It didn’t work out in January, so I had a good time at Aston Villa. I am very thankful for the opportunity I had there. The summer came around quickly, and it was time for another decision. My choice was straightforward. It’s a family club, something I’ve always known.”

Having spent 20 years at United and netting 138 goals in 426 appearances, Rashford has not played since being benched by Amorim for the Manchester derby last December. Later that month, he expressed his readiness for a new challenge.

“The situation at United is that the club is in a transitional phase, and it has been for a while,” Rashford noted. “I have nothing negative to say about Manchester United as it has been an integral part of my career and life. I am thankful for the opportunity to play there. But football, like life, doesn’t always go as planned, and this represents my next chapter. I’m entirely focused on this and eager to improve myself while helping the team win trophies.”

In a statement, Manchester United conveyed, “Everyone at Manchester United wishes Marcus good luck for the season.”