Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has successfully completed a medical with Barcelona as he finalises a season-long loan move to the Spanish giants.
The 27-year-old arrived in Catalonia on Sunday evening after receiving clearance from Manchester United to complete the final stages of the transfer. On Monday morning, he was welcomed at the club's training facility by Barcelona manager Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco.
Negotiations between the two clubs accelerated over the past week, culminating in a deal agreed in principle over the weekend. Under the terms of the agreement, Barcelona will cover Rashford’s full salary for the duration of the loan, with the England international agreeing to a 25% pay reduction—an arrangement that will save Manchester United an estimated £14 million.
The loan agreement runs for an initial 12 months and includes a purchase option valued at £30.3 million (€35 million).
Rashford is expected to be formally unveiled to the media on Wednesday.
The forward, who previously expressed a desire for a "new challenge" after being dropped by United boss Ruben Amorim in December, had identified Barcelona as his preferred destination. His move to the Camp Nou follows a six-month loan spell at Aston Villa during the latter half of last season.
Barcelona are aiming to finalise Rashford’s registration in time for him to join the club’s pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea, which begins on Thursday. Although Rashford may not be eligible for La Liga registration immediately due to financial regulations, he will still be able to train with the squad and feature in non-competitive fixtures.
If the timeline holds, Rashford could face a familiar opponent on 31 July, when Barcelona play FC Seoul—home to former United teammate Jesse Lingard, now in his second season in the K League.
Former United midfielder Paul Pogba, now at AS Monaco, shared his thoughts on the move during a recent appearance on YouTuber IShowSpeed’s channel: "I'm happy for him because they [United] took his number. Manchester United are losing a great player—unlucky for them, but it's great for Barcelona. It's not really [Amorim’s] fault. If he doesn't believe in someone, he has to make decisions. He needs to win, or they'll sack him."
The move marks a significant shift in Rashford’s career, potentially offering a fresh start in a new environment under Flick’s leadership at one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs.
