Marcus Rashford Seals Loan Move to Aston Villa from Manchester United, Ending Exile with Option to Buy
BIRMINGHAM, England – Marcus Rashford has joined Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United for the remainder of the season, marking a dramatic turnaround for the England international. Frozen out under manager Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford, Rashford’s move offers a chance to reignite his career.
The 27-year-old, once a celebrated figure at United, last played for the club on December 12. His hefty £300,000-a-week salary had initially deterred potential suitors like AC Milan and Barcelona. However, Villa will reportedly cover 75-90% of his wages, with performance-based bonuses, and have an option to buy him permanently for £40 million at season’s end, according to Sky Sports.
“I was lucky to have a few clubs approach me, but Aston Villa was an easy decision,” Rashford stated. “I really admire the way that Aston Villa have been playing this season, and the manager’s ambitions. I just want to play football and am excited to get started.”
The move comes after Villa sold Colombian striker Jhon Duran to Al Nassr. Currently eighth in the Premier League and vying for Champions League qualification, Villa’s acquisition of Rashford bolsters their attacking options.
Rashford’s fall from grace at United has been striking. Despite a successful past with the club, including over 400 appearances and numerous trophies, his recent form and reported attitude issues under Amorim led to his exclusion from the squad. Amorim publicly questioned Rashford’s work ethic, even stating he’d prefer the club’s veteran goalkeeping coach over him.
This loan move provides Rashford with a fresh start, aiming to recapture the form that saw him score a career-best 30 goals in the 2022/23 season and represent England at the World Cup.
