Rasmus Højlund has completed a loan move to 'Napoli' from Manchester United just before the Italian transfer window closed. The 23-year-old Danish striker arrives at the request of manager Antonio Conte following Romelu Lukaku's serious muscle injury during preseason.
Højlund returns to Italian football where he previously impressed with 'Atalanta' before his big-money move to Old Trafford. His stint at United has been disappointing - failing to live up to the €77 million price tag that brought him to England in 2023.
'Napoli' will pay €6 million for the loan with an option to buy set at €44 million. Interestingly, this purchase option becomes mandatory if Conte's team qualifies for the 2026-2027 Champions League season.
The deal was finalized after a meeting between 'Napoli' president Aurelio De Laurentiis, sporting director Giovanni Manna, Conte, and Højlund's agent. The player completed his medical examination in Rome on Sunday.
Worth noting that United's summer signings of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko for over €240 million made it clear that new manager Rúben Amorim didn't count on Højlund, despite the player expressing his desire to stay and fight for his place.
Højlund isn't the only addition to 'Napoli' today. Eljif Elmas, the 25-year-old North Macedonian winger, also returns to the club on loan from 'Leipzig' with an option to buy. Elmas is a fan favorite who scored 19 goals during his previous five-year spell and was part of the squad that won the Scudetto in 2023.
The reigning Serie A champions have now spent €115 million this summer on transfers including Beukema, Lang, Gutiérrez, Milinkovic-Savic, Lucca, Marianucci, Højlund, Elmas, and Kevin De Bruyne, who joined as a free agent from 'Manchester City'.
Can Højlund rediscover his 'Atalanta' form in Naples? The Danish striker certainly has a point to prove after his Manchester misadventure.
