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By Martin Graham | 3rd Feb 2025
Aston Villa have completed the temporary signing of Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford. The 27-year-old has moved to Villa Park on a loan deal that will run until the conclusion of the current campaign. As part of the agreement, the club has the option to sign him permanently for a fee of £40 million.
Sources from Manchester United revealed that the terms include coverage of at least 75% of Rashford’s wages. However, Villa has not paid a fee to facilitate the loan.
Expressing his excitement about the transfer, Rashford shared his thoughts on Instagram. He acknowledged both clubs for making the move possible, stating: “I appreciate Manchester United and Aston Villa for enabling this loan to happen. Several clubs showed interest in me, but Villa was the obvious choice. I admire how they have performed this season and the manager’s vision. My priority is to play football, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Following his exclusion from the Manchester derby in December, the England international hinted at his readiness for a fresh challenge.
Villa strengthens squad amid injury concerns
Aston Villa are also on the verge of securing another key signing, with Spain international Marco Asensio expected to join on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
After their 2-0 loss to Wolves, manager Unai Emery emphasized the club’s need to bring in reinforcements. The January transfer window has already seen Villa add Spanish full-back Andres Garcia from Levante and Dutch forward Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund.
However, the squad has also undergone departures. Colombian striker Jhon Duran moved to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr for £71 million, while Brazilian centre-back Diego Carlos completed a transfer to Fenerbahce for approximately £8.45 million.
Ollie Watkins’ recent injury has further compounded Villa’s concerns. The club has even had to deploy midfielder Boubacar Kamara as an emergency center-back due to the absences of Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings.
Defensive shake-up as Nedeljkovic departs
Villa have also confirmed the loan exit of 19-year-old defender Kosta Nedeljkovic to RB Leipzig for the rest of the season.
Since joining from Red Star Belgrade in January 2024, Nedeljkovic has made only two starts for the club. With defensive injuries mounting, Villa’s moves in the transfer market indicate a focus on reinforcing key areas as they push forward in their campaign.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer
