Rashford officially joins Barcelona: I feel like I m at home

Marcus Rashford has officially begun a new chapter in his career, completing a season-long loan move to Barcelona. The 27-year-old forward, who arrives from Manchester United, expressed immediate comfort in his new surroundings, telling Barcelona's YouTube channel, "I feel like I'm at home." The initial 12-month loan includes an option for the Catalan giants to sign the England international permanently for £30.3 million (35m euros) in 2026. This transfer makes Rashford the first English player to join Barcelona, who secured a league and cup double last season, since Gary Lineker in 1986.

Rashford's departure from his boyhood club, Manchester United, has been brewing for some time. He hasn't played for the Red Devils since December of last year, following manager Ruben Amorim's decision to drop him. This led to a six-month loan spell at Aston Villa in the latter half of the 2024-25 season. In July, it was confirmed that Rashford was one of five players who had informed United of their desire to leave the club.

"I'm very excited," Rashford added. "It's a club where people's dreams come true, they win big prizes. What the club stands for means a lot for me. I feel like I'm at home and a big factor in my choice to come here is because it is a family place and a good place for good players to showcase their skills." He also cited positive conversations with Barcelona coach Hansi Flick, praising his work last season and expressing eagerness to "learn the Barcelona way."

Financially, the move is beneficial for Barcelona, as Rashford has agreed to a pay cut, allowing the La Liga club to cover his full wages during his loan spell. For Manchester United, this is expected to save them between £14-£15 million over the next 12 months in salary.

Rashford trained with his new teammates for the first time on Tuesday and is anticipated to join the squad traveling to Japan on Thursday for their pre-season tour of Asia. This move signifies the first time in his career that the forward has left the Premier League.

During his tenure at Manchester United, where he emerged from the academy, Rashford scored 138 goals in 426 matches since his debut in 2016, winning five major trophies. He currently sits 15th on the club's all-time scorers list.

His problems at Old Trafford, however, predated Amorim's arrival. After signing a new five-year deal in 2023 following a stellar 30-goal season, Rashford's form sharply declined, managing just eight goals in 43 appearances in 2023-24. He was disciplined three times by former manager Erik ten Hag in 13 months, including being dropped for turning up late to a team meeting, apologizing for attending a birthday party hours after a defeat, and missing an FA Cup tie due to illness after being pictured partying.

Despite his public struggles, Rashford expressed gratitude for his time at Manchester United, stating he had "nothing bad to say." While acknowledging United is in a "period of change," he focused on his "new chapter" at Barcelona and the opportunity to win more trophies, specifically mentioning his desire for a league title and the Champions League, which he hasn't yet won.

"I want to win the biggest trophies and I feel like Barcelona is a huge club in the football world, so it is the perfect place," Rashford affirmed. "They have a young, ambitious team and I want to add my qualities, my personality, improve the team, and help them win. This is a historic club and they are known for winning the biggest prizes. I am here to help the club do that. It is a dream of mine."