Marcus Rashford has completed a surprise season-long loan move to Barcelona, expressing excitement about a fresh start and saying he already “feels at home” at the Spanish giants.
The 27-year-old forward joins from Manchester United on an initial 12-month deal, with Barcelona holding the option to make the move permanent in 2026 for €35 million (£30.3m).
Rashford becomes the first English player to sign for Barcelona since Gary Lineker in 1986.
The move marks his first venture outside the Premier League, having spent his entire senior career at United, where he scored 138 goals in 426 appearances and won five major trophies.
Speaking to Barcelona’s official media, Rashford said “I’m very excited. It’s a club where dreams come true, where people win big prizes. I feel like I’m at home.
“One of the big reasons I came here is because it feels like a family—a place where good players thrive.”
“I also had really positive conversations with [head coach] Hansi Flick. What he achieved with a young team last season was remarkable.
It confirmed everything I believed about Barcelona—it’s everything I hoped for. I’m eager to learn the Barcelona way.”
Rashford had not featured for Manchester United since December 2024 after being dropped by manager Ruben Amorim.
He spent the latter half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, showing flashes of his old form but also delivering inconsistent performances. In July, he was among five players who informed United of their desire to leave.
Barcelona will cover Rashford’s full wages during the loan after he agreed to a pay cut.
The move is expected to save United between £14 million and £15 million in salary expenses.
The England international trained with his new teammates on Tuesday and is set to be included in the squad heading to Japan for a pre-season tour later this week.
Rashford leaves United ranked 15th on the club’s all-time scorers list.
Despite his talent, his inconsistency and off-field scrutiny had made his future uncertain at Old Trafford.
While sending a player of Rashford’s stature to Barcelona may seem unusual, United’s priority now is to back Amorim with a squad that can compete.
Optics aside, the club is focusing on rebuilding and maximizing opportunities—even when that means parting with one of their own.
