Advertisement

Rashford out, Dorgu signs - Manchester United's January transfer window rated

New signings Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven before Manchester United vs Crystal Palace
-Credit:Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images


The January transfer window for English clubs has closed, with no more incoming players allowed besides emergency free transfers. Manchester United have solved two issues at the club in the past month, but left themselves with a big one - will it be enough to improve results on the pitch?

Have your say! How would you rate Manchester United's transfer window? Were the deals good? Should the club have been more aggressive? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.

The story of United's window was mainly about the outgoing players. The club found themselves with a major problem when one of their highest paid players, Marcus Rashford, was frozen out of the team following his now-infamous "new challenge" interview with the journalist Henry Winter in December 2024.

READ MORE: I spoke to Marcus Rashford before Man United exit – I'm not surprised he was embarrassed

READ MORE: Dusan Vlahovic has already sent clear message to Ruben Amorim amid Man United transfer links

The dilemma of what to do about Rashford dominated the transfer window, with very few elite clubs in the world who are able to match both United and Rashford's needs, let alone those who wanted to. In the end, Rashford went to Aston Villa on a loan deal with a £40 million option in the summer, and with no obvious way back to the top in Manchester, both clubs will be hoping for him to find his best form in the Midlands.

Antony has also departed the club on loan to Real Betis, joining a club hunting for European football in Spain. The hugely expensive signing never made good on a goalscoring start to life in the Premier League, but with a failure to bring in more attackers, United find themselves dangerously short up front, and a badly timed injury could threaten to derail the season further.

The only major incoming transfer was that of 20-year-old Patrick Dorgu from Lecce for £29.5 million, with the Italian club attempting to resist the deal only to cave in the final days, while Ayden Heaven joined from Arsenal. Amorim wanted to strengthen the left side of his squad, with Luke Shaw's injury and Tyrell Malacia seemingly not trusted and on his way to PSV in the Netherlands.

Dorgu gives Amorim the wing-back he wants for the new system he is trying to impose on his squad. The Danish international could feature as soon as Friday 7, when United host Leicester City in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

United are still left with some players they would have liked to move on, including midfielder Casemiro, who failed to secure a move despite talks. The club will have to wait until the summer transfer window to start a proper rebuild in the image of Ruben Amorim.

You can vote in our United transfer poll below:


Ins

  • Ayden Heaven - Arsenal (Permanent)

  • Patrick Dorgu - Lecce (Permanent)

Outs

  • Marcus Rashford - Aston Villa (Loan)

  • Antony - Real Betis (Loan)

  • Dan Gore - Rotherham (Loan)

  • Ethan Ennis - Doncaster Rovers (Loan)

  • Joe Hugill (Carlisle United) (Loan)

  • Ethan Wheatley - Walsall (Loan)

  • Jack Kingdon - Rochdale (Loan)

  • Ethan Williams - Cheltenham Town (Loan)

  • Ruben Curley - Stoke City (Permanent)

  • Louis Jackson - Tranmere Rovers (Loan)

  • Sam Mather - Tranmere Rovers (Loan)

To be confirmed

  • Tyrell Malacia - PSV (Loan) *Netherlands' transfer window shuts on Tuesday

  • Tom Myles - Non-league club (Loan)

Have your say! How would you rate Manchester United's transfer window? Were the deals good? Should the club have been more aggressive? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.