Man Utd suddenly announce £38m transfer as Carrick handed major boost | Football | Sport

Manchester United have announced their first transfer deal of the summer window in a deal valued at £38million. Michael Carrick will be hoping for a fruitful summer as he prepares for his first full season at the helm of the Red Devils. He was handed the permanent managerial role after impressing in a caretaker capacity, having steered United into the Premier League’s top three.

Carrick’s next challenge will be to mould the squad in his own image as the club look to challenge both domestically and on the European stage next season. United have already been linked with a number of prospective signings, with Atalanta midfielder Ederson poised to become their first addition of the window. He is widely anticipated to make the move to Old Trafford in a £37m deal and sign a five-year contract.

However, that won’t represent United’s first piece of business this summer, with Rasmus Hojlund having already departed the club to join Napoli on a permanent basis.

The striker struggled to make his mark during his spell in England and was sent out on loan to the Italian giants at the beginning of last season.

The deal contained a clause that would see him remain at Napoli on a permanent footing, provided they secured Champions League qualification.

That clause was triggered when they finished as Serie A runners-up, booking their place at European football’s top table for the 2026/27 campaign.

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United issued a statement, days after their financial records confirmed the move, that read: “Rasmus Hojlund has joined Napoli on a permanent transfer. The Denmark international spent last season on loan at the Italian club, scoring 16 times in 44 games across all competitions, and has now permanently joined the Neapolitans.

“The boyhood United fan signed from Atalanta in the summer of 2023 and went on to score 26 goals in 95 appearances. He was part of the Reds squad that lifted the Emirates FA Cup in May 2024, having come on as a substitute against Manchester City at Wembley.

“At the start of the 2025/26 season, Hojlund returned to Italy on a season-long loan, helping Napoli to win the Supercoppa Italiana and finish runners-up in Serie A. Everyone at the club would like to wish Rasmus all the very best for the future.”

This follows weeks after the Danish striker penned a heartfelt message to Red Devils supporters on social media, addressing his departure and reflecting on his time at Old Trafford.

He said: “We now secured Champions League with Napoli, which means because of my contract I’m now officially a Napoli player and I’m saying goodbye to Manchester United.

“That feels weird, because for the past year I already feel like a Napoli player. The way you fans supported me, made me feel like home and let me find my confidence again is something I’m so grateful for.

“To say goodbye to Manchester United is something that kinda feels emotional too. My childhood dream came true by playing at Old Trafford in a red jersey.

“So the goal today symbolises a new confident start, in which I will give everything for the time ahead to Napoli, and a thank you to all the fans, players and staff of Manchester United who made the dream I had as a kid come true.”

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