England forward Marcus Rashford says he feels “at home” after completing a season-long loan move to Barcelona from Manchester United.
The 27-year-old joins the Spanish giants on an initial 12-month loan deal, with Barcelona holding an option to make the move permanent in 2026 for £30.3 million (€35 million). Rashford becomes the first English player to sign for the Catalan club since Gary Lineker in 1986.
Rashford has been out of favour at Manchester United since December 2024 under manager Ruben Amorim. He spent the latter half of the 2024–25 season on loan at Aston Villa. In July, he was among five players who informed United of their desire to leave the club.
In his first interview with Barça’s media team, Rashford expressed enthusiasm about the move.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “It’s a club where people’s dreams come true, and they win big prizes. What the club stands for means a lot to me. I feel like I’m at home here. A big reason for choosing Barcelona is that it feels like a family, a good environment for top players to express themselves.”
He also praised Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick, crediting their conversations and the team’s recent achievements as key factors in his decision.
“What Hansi did last season was terrific, to guide such a young squad to success and still come back wanting more. That showed me everything I hoped to find here. I’m eager to learn the Barcelona way.”
Barcelona will pay Rashford’s full salary during the loan spell, after the player agreed to a wage reduction. This move is expected to save Manchester United approximately £14–£15 million over the next year.
Rashford trained with his new teammates for the first time on Tuesday and is expected to be part of the squad heading to Japan on Thursday for Barcelona’s pre-season tour of Asia. This marks Rashford’s first experience outside of the Premier League.
A product of Manchester United’s academy, Rashford made his senior debut in 2016 and has since scored 138 goals in 426 appearances, winning five major trophies. He ranks 15th on United’s all-time goal scorers list.
