Aston Villa have officially confirmed that Marcus Rashford will don the No. 9 shirt for the remainder of the season following his loan move from Manchester United.
The England international, who completed his switch to Villa Park over the weekend, arrives with an option for a permanent transfer in the summer for a pre-agreed fee of £40 million. Rashford’s arrival marks a significant statement of intent from Villa as they look to strengthen their attack for the final stretch of the campaign.
The 27-year-old forward had been Manchester United’s No. 10 since 2018, having previously worn No. 39 when he broke into the first team before switching to No. 19 at the start of the 2016-17 season. While the No. 10 shirt was available at Villa following Emiliano Buendía’s recent departure, Rashford has instead taken the No. 9 jersey, which was vacated by Jhon Durán after his £65 million transfer to Saudi Arabia. The decision signals his role as Villa’s central attacking presence in the months ahead.
Rashford leaves United having scored 138 goals in 426 senior appearances, but his final game for the club came back on December 12. His relationship with manager Ruben Amorim had reportedly deteriorated, ultimately leading to his temporary exit from Old Trafford. With playing time limited, Rashford opted for a fresh challenge at a Villa side pushing for Champions League qualification under Unai Emery.
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Speaking after completing the first transfer of his professional career, Rashford expressed gratitude towards both clubs for facilitating the move. “I would like to thank Manchester United and Aston Villa for making this loan deal happen,” he said. “Was lucky to have a few clubs approach me, but Aston Villa was an easy decision—I really admire the way they have been playing this season and the manager’s ambitions. I just want to play football and am excited to get started.”
Also, Villa fans will be eager to see how Rashford fits into Emery’s high-energy attacking system, which has been one of the most exciting in the Premier League this season. Meanwhile, his pace, directness, and finishing ability could make him a crucial addition to a squad looking to maintain its strong domestic form while also competing in Europe. His versatility, capable of playing both centrally and from the left, provides Villa with a dynamic new attacking option.
With the No. 9 shirt now his at Villa Park, Rashford has the perfect opportunity to reignite his career and showcase the quality that made him one of England’s most highly regarded forwards. Villa supporters will be hopeful that his arrival helps propel the team towards their lofty ambitions, while Rashford himself will be determined to make a lasting impact in his new colors.
