Napoli have completed the signing of Danish striker Rasmus Højlund from Manchester United on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy, the Italian champions announced on Monday.
The 22-year-old forward brings his underwhelming two-year spell at Old Trafford to an end, with British media reporting that Napoli will pay £38 million ($51.5 million) to secure a permanent transfer next summer.
Højlund arrived at Manchester United from Atalanta in 2023 for £64 million, but struggled to meet expectations in a team that endured inconsistent performances under successive managers.
During his time at United, he scored 26 goals in 95 appearances across all competitions. While he managed six goals in United’s Europa League run to the final last season, his league form was disappointing, registering just four goals in 32 Premier League matches.
Compounding his challenges, new United boss Ruben Amorim froze him out of the squad ahead of the current campaign, paving the way for his return to Serie A.
Napoli’s Striker Solution
Napoli were urgently in the market for attacking reinforcements after Romelu Lukaku suffered a serious thigh injury in pre-season. Italian media reports indicate the Belgian striker could be sidelined until 2026, forcing the Partenopei to move swiftly in the market.
Højlund’s prior experience in Serie A with Atalanta—where he netted 10 goals in 34 matches—convinced Napoli to make their move.
The Danish international will now link up with Antonio Conte’s squad, who are aiming to defend their Serie A crown after clinching the Scudetto last season by a single point over Inter Milan. Napoli have made a strong start to the new campaign, winning their first two matches with summer signing Kevin De Bruyne playing a pivotal role.
Højlund will be expected to lead the line in Conte’s system, with the coach hopeful the forward can rediscover the prolific form that earned him his big-money move to Manchester United two years ago.
