Marcus Rashford - signed on loan (injured - out for season?)

[DrGonzo]

Be amazing. Let's face it you can't do worse than the last left sided attacker we loaned.

[Monty]

How extraordinarily bizarre to see Marcus Rashford in a Villa shirt.

[olaftab]

What can I say🤷🏽‍♂️ He’s here now and he will be wearing our colours so I hope he lights up Villa Park next Sunday (that is if he’s not cup tied)

[Toronto Villa]

Aston Villa complete signing of Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United

Jacob Tanswell

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United.

The England international, 27, moves to the West Midlands club for the remainder of the season with Villa holding an option to make the move permanent for £40million (€47.8m, $49.5m) in the summer.

Villa will cover a minimum of three-quarters of his wages for the duration of his stay at Villa Park and up to 90 per cent depending on performance-based bonuses.

Rashford’s contract at Old Trafford — which runs until 2028 — puts him among the club’s top earners at more than £325,000 per week.
The pursuit of Rashford has been personally requested by Unai Emery with the Villa manager a huge admirer and of the belief he can help him recapture his best form.

Emery is an expert at rejuvenating footballers' careers - can he do it with Rashford?
Rashford has not played in United’s last 12 games in all competitions having initially been left out of the Manchester derby squad on December 15.

He was again absent as United beat Fulham in the Premier League last week before Amorim said he would rather play his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach, Jorge Vital, as a substitute than pick a player who wasn’t giving their all.

Rashford has not featured for United since the Europa League fixture against Viktoria Plzen on December 12. He has been included in a matchday squad just once since then — against Newcastle United, where he was an unused substitute.

He has been available for loan all month after he said in an interview in December he was “ready for a new challenge” with Barcelona, Milan and Borussia Dortmund among those interested around Europe.

He will now join a Villa side who are in the race for European qualification once again under Emery and are into the last 16 of the Champions League, where Rashford will be eligible to feature.

Rashford’s debut for his new club could come against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup next Sunday or in the Premier League against Ipswich Town the following weekend.

Villa signed Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund earlier this month but have been looking at further attacking additions after Emi Buendia’s loan move to Bayer Leverkusen and the departure of Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.

‘A chance to become a more valuable asset’

Analysis by The Athletic’s Manchester United correspondent Laurie Whitwell

United would traditionally be wary of sending a player to an English rival, fearful of the prospect of them performing well and making their difficulties at Old Trafford seem the fault of the club. Jesse Lingard’s loan to West Ham springs to mind.

But the new United regime is doing things differently and they are ready to sanction a Premier League exit now the money looks like making sense. Villa would be paying a significant portion of Rashford’s £325,000-a-week wages and committing to a buy option.

The appeal from a United perspective is that Rashford is so far out of the picture under Amorim that his salary is wasted cash. Recouping some of that at least boosts the bank balance and should Rashford reignite his form, then he becomes a more valuable asset to sell in the summer.

Villa’s place in the Champions League, and Rashford’s eligibility, presents the possibility of him reminding people he is capable of delivering on the biggest of stages. Rashford appears to have been persuaded of the appeal.

‘Emery believes he can rejuvenate Rashford’

Analysis by Aston Villa correspondent Jacob Tanswell

Villa have been aiming to strengthen in attacking areas following the departure of Buendia to Bayer Leverkusen and the sale of Jhon Duran to Al Nassr.

Versatility in the frontline appeals to Villa, with Emery wanting players that can cover multiple positions, both centrally and out-wide. Rashford will provide an alternative option to Ollie Watkins in the No 9 role and play on both flanks, with the right winger in Emery’s system tasked with making out-to-in runs and stretching opponents’ backline.

Emery has long held value in rejuvenating the careers of players — his interest in Marco Asensio and Joao Felix serve as illustrative examples — and believes he can do the same with Rashford.

The Spaniard has a reputation for forwards peaking under his tutelage and working with a player who can play out wide and in the inside channels has often been a cornerstone of his coaching.

[cdbearsfan]

We've merited a Sky News alert. Not the sport website, the actual news site. Can't remember that with any of our signings before. Maybe Bowery?

[PaulWinch again]

Right good luck Marcus, Monchi get a fucking centre-back in.

[The Edge]

This does not feel like an Unai type of transfer I really hope it goes well.

Well it is an Unai type signing because he has the final say on who comes and goes.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

[caster troy]

I’m going to try to stay positive and dream it’s Rashford-Watkins-Rogers as an all Villa front three for England at the 2026 World Cup.

[Beard82]

Welcome to the best club in the world Marcus!  You'll want to stay, so make sure you get back to your best quick smart otherwise well send you back to that shitshow!

UTV

[mallo]

Happy to give him a fresh start - the circus of manu doesn’t mean much - they turn a lot of good players to crap - but he has to commit. It’s that simple - he wants it, he’s got talent, he doesn’t - a pup. I tend to think he’ll have a go - he’s 27 - no commentary history - he’s football institutionalised - won’t want to stop - and he’s not that old. The personal attitude to Villa will be interesting - might sting early action by not being united, but will being a Villa player have an effect on someone who was part of the greatest manu and team of the uk under fergie - he might just accept its downhill from now - I don’t know but we’re at the no one knows situation. I hope for the best and do think he’ll be net good.

[AV84]

Looking at a Man U subreddit there to see their opinions now it's official. Most saying its upsetting to see him wearing any other team's kit. A few saying good riddance. Most seem to take the reasonable view that he couldn't stay and wish him luck. One person says its the equivalent of Amorim walking into the prison on his first day and punching the biggest guy there. Which made me chuckle, but I suspect there's something to that.

The funniest thing is there's a few of them convinced the leaked photo of him signing the contract proves it was him leaking their lineups.

[Demitri_C]

Now he's in the door I'm fully behind him . If he can recapture his best form he will be superb for us , linking up with Watkins .

Hahahahahahahahaha.

But such a shame is all such a fecking rush job eh ?

Dont see anything wrong with this post.

Welcome marcus !

[Legion]

Right good luck Marcus, Monchi get a fucking centre-back in.

This. Welcome to the greatest club you'll ever play for and don't be shit for us.

[Tuscans]