Manchester United just made their Champions League return a lot more expensive. Marcus Rashford’s weekly wage is set to jump to £325,000 following the club’s qualification for the 2026-27 UCL, triggering a performance-related escalator baked into his contract.
The contract clause nobody wanted activated
Rashford’s deal with Manchester United runs through June 2028. Built into that contract are salary escalators tied to team performance, specifically participation in major European competitions. With United locking down a Champions League spot for the first time in two seasons, Rashford’s wages reportedly climb by around 25%.
The 28-year-old forward is returning from a loan spell at Barcelona, where the Spanish club opted against exercising a £26 million buyout option. He scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists during the 2025-26 season in Catalonia. Barcelona simply decided, for their own financial reasons, not to make the move permanent. So Rashford comes back to Manchester with improved form, a bigger wage bill, and a club that still wants him gone.
The £40 million question
