Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Sunday, May 17, 2026, 4:55 p.m. / Updated Sunday, May 17, 2026, 4:58 p.m.
Napoli's qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League has activated the mandatory transfer clause of Manchester United loanee Rasmus Hojlund.
The move thus becomes official: the Danish striker will be transferred permanently to Napoli this summer in a deal valued at 44 million euros, after the Italian club met their European target.
The loan, worth 6 million euros, included a mandatory purchase clause, activated conditional on the qualification of the team coached by Antonio Conte in the most important interclub competition in Europe for the 2026/27 season.
Napoli have mathematically secured their place in the Champions League
The objective was achieved on Sunday, when Serie A runners-up Napoli beat Pisa 3-0.
The success ensured the Neapolitans a five-point lead over Como, in 5th place, with one stage before the end of the season. In the decider, Rasmus Hojlund had a decisive role: he provided an assist for Scott McTominay and scored the last goal of the game himself in extra time.
Hojlund, from Manchester United to Napoli
Although he was informed by manager Ruben Amorim that he was no longer part of the club's plans at the end of the mercato window, Hojlund initially wanted to continue at Manchester United.
However, the loan to Napoli proved to be a beneficial solution for all parties involved, and his performances in Serie A confirmed the return to an upward trend.
In the shirt of Manchester United, the Danish striker scored 26 goals in 95 games, but in the season before his departure he had only 4 goals in 32 Premier League games.
Back in Italy, at Napoli, Hojlund collected 15 goals in 43 appearances, becoming an important piece in the context of Romelu Lukaku's medical problems. For Manchester United, the sum of €44 million represents a significant loss compared to the initial investment of €75 million plus bonuses.
