Marcus Rashford has joined FC Barcelona on a season-long loan from Manchester United, bringing a dramatic twist to the England forward’s career following a challenging spell at Old Trafford.
The deal includes an option for the Catalan giants to make the move permanent, with the eventual fee reportedly in the region of €30 million. Neither club has publicly confirmed the financial details.
Rashford, 27, landed in Spain on Sunday and was officially presented at the Camp Nou before Barcelona’s upcoming pre-season tour of Asia. He will wear the No. 14 shirt under new manager Hansi Flick.
“This is a club where dreams come true,” Rashford told Barça TV. “It already feels like home. There’s a family atmosphere here, and it’s a place where players are encouraged to express themselves.”
Barcelona had been tracking Rashford since January and accelerated talks after missing out on other wide options. Nico Williams extended his stay at Athletic Club, and Liverpool stood firm on Luis Diaz, leaving Rashford as a prime alternative.
According to sources close to the negotiations, the England international took a significant pay cut to ensure the move went ahead. The loan structure appealed to Barcelona, who continue to operate within tight financial parameters but were keen to strengthen their attacking depth without committing to large upfront costs.
Rashford is expected to be involved during Barcelona’s tour, which features friendlies against Vissel Kobe, Daegu FC, and FC Seoul – where he could link up once again with former teammate Jesse Lingard.
His move comes after a steep decline in form and game time at United. Under new manager Ruben Amorim, Rashford fell down the pecking order and was completely frozen out of the squad following a Europa League outing against Viktoria Plzen in December. He trained separately from the first team in recent weeks.
A failed January loan to Aston Villa left his future in limbo, but Rashford was reportedly holding out for a move to Barcelona. Now, he gets a fresh start in LaLiga and the chance to reignite his career at a club competing at the highest level.
Still contracted to United until 2028 on a deal worth £325,000 a week, Rashford departs with 138 goals in 426 appearances for his boyhood club.
At Barcelona, he joins a formidable attacking unit featuring Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal, and Dani Olmo. Flick’s squad is targeting another deep run in the Champions League after falling short in last season’s semifinals against Inter Milan, despite sweeping the domestic treble.
Elsewhere, Barcelona are also closing in on a deal for Braga striker Pau Víctor, with the transfer fee expected to fall between €10 million and €15 million, pending final agreement on personal terms.