In a move that has sent shockwaves through the footballing world, Barcelona have officially announced the acquisition of Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United until June 30, 2026. The agreement includes an option for the Spanish club to buy the England forward at the end of the loan spell.
Rashford, 27, completed his medical in Barcelona on Monday and is expected to be unveiled as a Barcelona player on Wednesday. He is set to train with his new teammates soon. The England international had publicly expressed his desire to play for Barcelona, making this move a dream come true for him.
Barcelona's coach, Hansi Flick, reportedly approved the move after speaking with the player. Rashford's priority was a move to Barcelona, who intensified their interest after failing to acquire Nico Williams or Luis Diaz.
The transfer marks only the second time a player has directly moved from Manchester United to Barcelona, following in the footsteps of Gerard Pique, who returned to Camp Nou in 2008.
However, Barcelona's financial situation presents an immediate challenge. The club needs to offload players to register Rashford in La Liga, as they have exceeded the league's salary limit. Despite these financial constraints, Barcelona have historically managed to register new signings. The club is confident they will resolve the issue by offloading players and generating revenue. Barcelona will cover Rashford's wages during the loan, with the player reportedly taking a pay cut.
Manchester United have included a penalty clause in the deal: if Barcelona does not exercise their option to buy Rashford permanently, they will have to pay United a fee of around €5 million (£4.3m). The option to buy is reportedly set at €35 million (£30m).
Rashford's move to Barcelona comes after apublic fallout with Manchester United's manager Ruben Amorim. He also spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa. With his number 10 shirt at Manchester United being given to Matheus Cunha, a transfer seemed inevitable.
Barcelona has been strategically reinforcing its squad during the summer 2025 transfer window, with an eye on navigating financial constraints. They have already signed Espanyol goalkeeper Joan García. However, their pursuit of Nico Williams was unsuccessful after the player extended his contract with Athletic Club.
The 2025-26 season is Barcelona's 126th season. The club will participate in La Liga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, and the UEFA Champions League.
Barcelona will begin their pre-season tour in Japan and South Korea in July and August, including a friendly match against Vissel Kobe on July 27. Rashford could potentially debut for Barcelona in that match.
