Rasmus Hojlund’s time at Manchester United is over after Napoli activated the option to sign the forward permanently. The Serie A side turned the initial loan from September into a full transfer after securing Champions League qualification by finishing second behind Inter.

Manchester United will receive a reported 44m (€38m) transfer fee from Napoli, on top of the earlier 6m (€5.1m) loan payment. The obligation to buy clause became active once Napoli sealed a top-four finish in Serie A for the 2025-26 season.

Hojlund delivered 16 goals in 44 matches across all competitions for Napoli, mirroring the 16 goals scored for Manchester United during the 2023-24 season, when Hojlund played 43 games. That debut campaign in England ended with an FA Cup medal after United beat Manchester City 2-1 at Wembley.

The striker’s second season at Old Trafford proved more difficult. Hojlund scored 10 goals in 52 appearances in 2024-25, as Manchester United finished 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham. Performances under Erik ten Hag and then Ruben Amorim lacked consistency during that period.

The Denmark international arrived at Old Trafford from Atalanta in 2023 for a fee of 83m (€72m). Hojlund had previously scored 10 goals in a single season for Atalanta, earning the move after one campaign in Bergamo.

Manchester United publicly announced the agreement with a social media post confirming the permanent switch to Naples. The message underlined the club’s appreciation for Hojlund’s contribution during two seasons in Manchester and acknowledged the fresh chapter now beginning in Serie A with Napoli.