Marcus Rashford

After a dip in form and a brief loan at Aston Villa in early 2025, Rashford moved to Barcelona on a season-long loan for 2025/26, with the deal including an option for Barcelona to sign him permanently for a reported 30 million euros.

The loan revived him: 14 goals and 14 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions, form strong enough to earn an England recall for the 2026 World Cup, where he scored off the bench in a 4-2 group-stage win over Croatia.

Barcelona ultimately let the 15 June deadline to trigger the permanent deal pass, and with Manchester United saying they have no plans to negotiate a fresh loan, Rashford is expected back at Carrington for pre-season.

Rashford is an explosive, direct forward who can play through the middle or from the left, with pace in behind and a low, driven strike as his signature finish -- traits that translated well to Barcelona's transition-heavy attack.

His return to Manchester United for 2026/27 is unresolved territory: he leaves Barcelona with his stock restored by a strong loan year and a World Cup appearance, but with no clear indication yet of his role back at Old Trafford.