Marcus Rashford officially joined Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United just 24 hours before the January transfer window closed.
This significant move allows him to gain valuable playing time until the end of the season.
The announcement follows the completion of a medical examination on Sunday afternoon, marking a new chapter for the 27-year-old England forward.
Rashford described his decision to move to Villa Park as “easy” in a heartfelt statement on Instagram.
He expressed his excitement about this new chapter in his career, emphasizing the opportunity to grow as a player.
In his post, he extended gratitude to both Manchester United and Aston Villa for facilitating the loan agreement.
This acknowledgment highlights his appreciation for the clubs’ support during this transition.
“Several clubs expressed interest, but Aston Villa was clearly the preferred choice.
A strong admiration exists for Aston Villa’s performance this season and the ambitions of the manager.
The focus is on playing football, and there is excitement to get started.
Best wishes are sent to everyone at Manchester United for the remainder of the season.”
Aston Villa will cover 75 percent of Rashford’s weekly wage of £325,000, according to the loan agreement terms.
Performance-related bonuses could raise this coverage to 90 percent, depending on his achievements.
Additionally, Villa holds an option to secure a permanent transfer for the forward for £40 million in the summer.
Rashford left Manchester United after a challenging time at Old Trafford, where manager Ruben Amorim sidelined him.
Since their Europa League win over Viktoria Plzen on December 12, the forward has not played for the Red Devils.
He chose to join Aston Villa, dismissing rumors of a move to Barcelona. Aston Villa currently leads Manchester United by eight points.
Since his debut in February 2016, the England international has made 426 appearances for Manchester United.
He scored 138 goals and provided 63 assists during his time with the club.
Recently, concerns about his performance emerged. He scored only 15 goals in the last 18 months, following a stellar 30-goal season in 2022-23.
The forward has also faced criticism for his on-pitch body language and behavior off the field.
Rashford aims to regain his form and solidify his status as one of the Premier League’s top forwards.
He also seeks to catch England manager Thomas Tuchel’s eye ahead of next year’s World Cup.
This Sunday, he could make his debut for Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
The team will host Tottenham in the fourth round at Villa Park.
In response to the transfer, Amorim dismissed claims that Rashford’s success at Villa would humiliate Manchester United.
He stated, “Humiliating? It’s not embarrassing.”
The Red Devils recently struggled, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Sunday.
As the transfer window closes, both Rashford and Aston Villa aim to make an immediate impact in upcoming fixtures.
This sets the stage for a pivotal second half of the season.
