Marcus Rashford has officially joined Barcelona on a two-year loan from Manchester United, with an option for the Spanish giants to make the deal permanent — and the England forward says the move already “feels like home.”
The 27-year-old was unveiled in Catalonia on Wednesday after weeks of speculation. Barcelona announced the deal in a statement:
“Barcelona and Manchester United have reached a deal for the loan of the player Marcus Rashford until June 30, 2026. The agreement also establishes an option to buy the English forward.”
Rashford, who had fallen out of favour at Old Trafford under new coach Ruben Amorim, said his decision to move was an easy one.
“It’s a family club, something I’m used to from my past. It feels like home, so I feel like I’ve made the right decision,” he told reporters.
According to Spanish media, Barça will pay around 75% of Rashford’s £325,000-a-week wage, with the player forfeiting the rest to facilitate the move.
Once seen as a future United icon, Rashford found himself sidelined and even loaned to Aston Villa last season, where he scored four goals in 17 appearances before a hamstring injury ended his campaign early. Amorim had publicly questioned Rashford’s motivation and discipline — a sentiment that marked the beginning of the end for the United academy product.
Despite the sour exit, Rashford took the high road:
“I don’t have anything bad to say about Manchester United… It’s been an important part of not just my career, but my life. But this is my next step, my next chapter.”
He will wear the number 14 jersey at Barça — a shirt once worn by Thierry Henry — and could play both on the wing and as backup to veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, who turns 37 in August.
Coach Hansi Flick had recently praised Rashford and Luis Diaz as potential targets, as the club seeks depth beyond Raphinha and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. With financial constraints still hanging over the club, Barcelona may need to make additional moves to register both Rashford and new goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
“I’m ready for the challenge,” Rashford said. “This club is built on winning, and I’m here to add to that history.”
His ambition? To follow in the footsteps of fellow Brit Gary Lineker, who scored 52 goals in three years at the Camp Nou.
“Of course I’d love to be the highest-scoring British player here — but more important than anything is that we win,” Rashford said.
