Napoli have completed the signing of Rasmus Hojlund from Manchester United in a deal that begins as a loan but contains a £38 million obligation to buy. Both clubs confirmed the move shortly before the Premier League transfer deadline on Monday evening.
United described the transfer as a season-long loan but Napoli made clear the agreement includes a mandatory purchase clause. The Italian champions have also paid an initial loan fee of around £5.1 million.
In a statement United said Hojlund has joined Napoli for the 2025-26 campaign subject to international clearance and registration. The Danish striker made 95 appearances for United following his £64 million move from Atalanta in 2023 and scored 26 goals. His most notable contribution came in the 2024 FA Cup final where he featured as a substitute in the victory over Manchester City.
Napoli confirmed the details of the agreement while outlining Hojlund’s career path. The 21-year-old progressed through the academies at Brondby, Holbaek and FC Copenhagen before breaking through at Sturm Graz. He moved to Atalanta in 2022, scoring ten goals in 34 appearances, and then joined United a year later. At international level he has scored eight goals in 26 matches for Denmark.
Hojlund’s time at Old Trafford was ultimately underwhelming. Last season he registered only four goals in 32 Premier League appearances and struggled to cement a place in the starting eleven. New manager Ruben Amorim left him out of his first-team plans this summer by placing him in what was referred to as the bomb squad.
The striker will now link up with Antonio Conte at Napoli and reunite with former United team-mate Scott McTominay, who was named Serie A Player of the Year in his first season in Italy. Napoli have also strengthened with the arrival of Kevin De Bruyne from Manchester City. Both McTominay and De Bruyne were on the scoresheet in Napoli’s 2-0 win at Sassuolo earlier this month as they began the defence of their league title.