Marseille Completes Signing Of Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood

Marseille has officially announced the signing of Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood.

The 22-year-old has moved for a fee of around £25m, including add-ons, while United are widely reported to have retained a sell-on clause of as much as 50% for a possible future transfer.

Greenwood has not played for United since being suspended by the club in January 2022 after being arrested on suspicion of rape and assault, with Greater Manchester Police confirming the existence of “social media images and videos posted by a woman reporting incidents of physical violence.”

The one-time England international was subsequently charged with attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behavior, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Although the charges were later dropped due to the withdrawal of key witnesses and the announcement that “new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”

Greenwood spent the previous season on loan at Getafe in La Liga, where he scored eight goals and contributed six assists.

A statement from his now-former club read: “Mason Greenwood has left Manchester United and joined French club Olympique de Marseille on a permanent transfer. The 22-year-old English forward, who spent last season on loan at Getafe in Spain, made 129 appearances and scored 35 goals for United since making his debut in 2019. We wish Mason all the best in his future career.”

Marseille boss, Roberto De Zerbi, who left Premier League club, Brighton after the 2023-24 season, said last week that he would hold no prejudice against Greenwood because of his past.

“Mason is a world-class player, but we have not recruited him yet. I don’t know what happened, but I am not used to getting involved in my players’ private life,” he said.

“But if he comes here, you have to know that I treat all my players like my sons. I can tell them off in private, but I would never attack them in public.”

Last week, the mayor of the French city commented on the transfer, describing the allegations against Greenwood as “unspeakable”. Additionally, he would ask Marseille president Pablo Longoria to not sign the player.

Marseille begin their 2024-25 Ligue 1 campaign against Brest on the weekend of Aug. 17/18.

Greenwood will wear Marseille’s number 10 shirt in the forthcoming season.