Barcelona confirm Marcus Rashford loan signing

FC Barcelona confirmed the loan signing of England international forward Marcus Rashford from Manchester United on Wednesday with a video in which the player said the news was "official."

Rashford joins the La Liga and Copa del Rey champion on an initial one-season loan, with Barcelona having the option to make the move permanent for around 35 million euros. However, there is also a clause that means the club has to pay compensation if it opts against this.

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford (L) breaks through during the FA Cup quarterfinal match between Manchester United and Liverpool in Manchester, Britain, on March 17, 2024. (Xinhua)

"What the club stands for means a lot for me. I feel like I am at home and a big factor in my choice to come here because it is a family place and a good place for good players to showcase their skills," said Rashford at his presentation.

"To be here is everything I wished and thought. I'm eager to get going and keep learning the Barcelona way as I go and be ready for the games," he continued, adding that the chance to work with Barca coach Hansi Flick was another key reason for his decision.

"What he did last season was terrific. In his career he's proved he's one of the top coaches, to lead such a young team to a very successful season," commented the forward.

The 27-year-old, who passed his medical tests in Barcelona on Monday, is rumored to have taken a 15 percent pay cut in order to complete the move after falling out of favor with United coach Ruben Amorim last season and spending the second half of the campaign on loan at Aston Villa.

He will now form part of the squad that travels to Asia on Thursday to play matches in both South Korea and Japan.

Rashford's signing at Barcelona comes after the club suffered an embarrassing failure to sign Spain international Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao for the second consecutive summer, with Williams opting to sign a new contract with Athletic.

Meanwhile, efforts to bring in Colombian winger Luis Diaz were frustrated by Barca's economic situation, which made it impossible for the club to get close to Liverpool's demands.

Rashford becomes the first English player to join FC Barcelona since Gary Lineker was at the club between 1986-1989 and only the second Englishman to play for them in over 100 years, with Harold Stamper the last previous Englishman after a season at Barcelona between 1922 and 1923.