Marcus Rashford’s exit clause from Manchester United, valued at £40 million, has now expired. This development means that any potential transfer for the player would require direct negotiation between clubs, rather than being triggered by a pre-set fee.
Rashford, who was part of England’s World Cup squad, is currently contracted to Old Trafford until 2028. Following his national team duties, he is expected to rejoin his club teammates for pre-season training.
Loan Spell and Return to United
Last season, Rashford spent the 2025-26 season on loan at Barcelona. The Spanish club had an option to make the move permanent, but ultimately chose not to exercise it. During his time with Barcelona, Rashford made 49 appearances across all competitions, contributing 14 goals and 14 assists.
His role at Barcelona is now anticipated to be filled by Anthony Gordon, who joined the club from Newcastle United. United’s management has indicated no plans for another temporary move for Rashford to Barcelona.
Rashford’s last appearance for Manchester United was in a Europa League victory against Viktoria Pilzen in December 2024. His relationship with the club had reportedly become strained after he was substituted during that match by then-head coach Ruben Amorim, who subsequently did not consider him for selection.
Despite previous issues, Rashford is expected to be reintegrated into the squad under head coach Michael Carrick for the upcoming season. Carrick, who took over permanently in May after an initial caretaker spell, has expressed enthusiasm for the new campaign, aiming for success in the Premier League and other competitions.
Club’s Stance and Pre-Season Plans
While Manchester United would prefer to manage their wage bill, there has been a reported lack of suitable offers for Rashford. The exit clause that recently expired was not applicable to United’s rivals, Manchester City and Liverpool.
The club’s pre-season schedule includes six friendly matches before the new campaign begins. These fixtures include a match against Wrexham in Helsinki on July 18, followed by games against Rosenborg in Trondheim on July 24, Atlético Madrid in Stockholm on August 1, Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on August 8, Leeds in Dublin on August 12, and Milan in Wroclaw on August 15. The Premier League season for United is set to commence with a trip to Hull a week later.
Rashford, a product of United’s academy, has made over 400 appearances for his boyhood club, scoring 138 goals since his debut in February 2016.
Squad Reinforcements
Manchester United has been active in strengthening its squad. An agreement has been reached with Chelsea for the transfer of midfielder Andrey Santos. The deal for the midfielder includes a sell-on clause for the London club.
Carrick’s midfield options are also expected to be further bolstered by the potential arrival of Éderson. The player is yet to complete a medical. Carrick is also reportedly interested in other midfielders, including Alex Scott and Adam Wharton.
The earliest Rashford could return to United for training, should England reach the World Cup final, would be August 10.
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Source: nytimes.com
George Hartwell is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB.org, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with twelve years of reporting experience. He reported on West Country football before national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of the West of England and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Bristol, he watches grassroots football and writes a tactics column. “Tactics tell you more than any scoreline.”