Key Takeaways:
- Rasmus Hojlund was sent on loan to Napoli from Manchester United on transfer deadline day
- The 22-year-old Danish striker had arrived at Old Trafford two summers earlier for £72 million
- United also offloaded Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Alejandro Garnacho as part of a late-window clear-out
Deadline Day Move for Hojlund
Rasmus Hojlund, the 22-year-old Danish striker, was left devastated following his late transfer move from Manchester United to Napoli on deadline day. Hojlund had joined United two summers ago from Atalanta in a high-profile transfer worth £72 million, but despite occasional flashes of promise, he never fully met expectations for either party.
Having expressed his desire to stay and fight for his position during United’s pre-season campaign in the United States, Hojlund soon faced a challenging situation as the club invested nearly £200 million in forwards Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko. The influx of new attacking options made it apparent that opportunities would be limited, setting the stage for Hojlund’s departure.
🚨 NEW: Hojlund was said to be heartbroken over the realisation his Old Trafford dream was over – especially when he started pre-season expecting to continue. #MUFC [@lauriewhitwell] pic.twitter.com/8t0rcW1sza
— UtdXclusive (@UtdXclusive) September 2, 2025
Napoli Move Details and United’s Ruthless Reshuffle
Hojlund’s switch to Napoli was secured on a season-long loan, with the Serie A reigning champions retaining the option to make the transfer permanent for £38 million if they secure Champions League qualification. With this move, he became the third former Manchester United player to sign for Napoli, joining Scott McTominay — who has gone on to earn a Ballon d’Or nomination since his arrival last year — and Romelu Lukaku, whose injury prompted manager Antonio Conte to target Hojlund as a replacement.
According to The Athletic, Hojlund was “heartbroken” about being forced out of Manchester United, especially having grown up supporting the club and believing he could prove himself ahead of new signing Sesko, provided he received the opportunity. However, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox, and manager Amorim collectively decided he should leave, resulting in Hojlund being placed among United’s so-called ‘bomb squad’ — a group of players including Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia, all of whom trained separately from the main squad.
Player Contributions and End of an Era
Hojlund leaves Old Trafford after registering 26 goals and six assists over 92 appearances in all competitions. The manner of his departure underlines a new, hard-nosed policy by United regarding player exits. Other members of the ‘bomb squad’ also found themselves heading for the exit during the closing stages of the transfer window.
Sancho completed a temporary switch to Aston Villa, Antony sealed a permanent move to Betis following his impressive loan stint in La Liga during the previous half-season, and Garnacho finalised a £40 million transfer to Chelsea after weeks of intense speculation.
Hojlund’s Final Words and United’s Future Direction
Reflecting on his uncertain future towards the end of July, Hojlund said: “The most important [thing] for me is to keep working hard and stay focused and then we’ll see what happens. My plan is very clear and that is for me to stay and fight for my spot.” Nevertheless, with the club’s hierarchy favouring a sweeping overhaul, he was not offered the chance to compete for his place, bringing a painful close to the striker’s ambitions at Old Trafford.
