Manchester United have officially announced that striker Rasmus Hojlund is leaving Old Trafford for good, ending his two-year spell with the Premier League club.
Manchester United Confirm Permanent Rasmus Hojlund Exit to Napoli
The 23-year-old Denmark international spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Napoli, and the Italian side have now triggered their obligation to buy the forward permanently.
Napoli finished second in Serie A this season, securing their place in the 2026/27 Champions League. That achievement activated the mandatory purchase clause included in Hojlund’s loan agreement.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that Napoli will pay Manchester United €44 million for Hojlund.
The Italian club previously paid a €6 million loan fee last summer, bringing the total deal to €50 million (£43.2 million).
Hojlund delivered impressive numbers for Napoli during his loan spell. The young striker scored 16 goals and provided eight assists in 44 appearances across all competitions this season.
United confirmed the departure on their official website, stating: “Rasmus Hojlund has joined Napoli on a permanent transfer.
The boyhood United fan signed from Atalanta in the summer of 2023 and went on to score 26 goals in 95 appearances. He helped the Reds lift the FA Cup in May 2024.”
The announcement will disappoint former Manchester United striker Michael Owen. Just weeks ago, Owen urged the club to cancel Hojlund’s loan and bring him back to work under manager Michael Carrick.
Owen previously argued that United’s broken team system unfairly judged the striker.
“He played in a Manchester United team that was broken and didn’t have any links,” Owen said.
“Who’s to say he’s not really good? He’s doing really well in Italy now.”
United have now permanently lost a forward who never truly got a fair chance in a functioning team at Old Trafford.
