- The club has an option to extend Greenwood’s contract with United beyond 2025
- Getafe reportedly expect United to trigger this clause to preserve his value
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Manchester United are reportedly likely to trigger an extension clause in Mason Greenwood’s contract to preserve his transfer value – even if the striker has no desire to return to Old Trafford.
The 22-year-old Greenwood, currently on loan to Spanish club Getafe, is under contract with United until 2025. However, his contract includes an option to extend it for a further twelve months.
The extension would prevent the forward from leaving United for nothing in the summer of 2025 and would increase their chances of recouping a significant fee for him.
A report from The Athletics says Getafe, who want to keep Greenwood permanently or for another season, believe United have already activated the one-year extension clause.
They say the LaLiga club have halted talks with United knowing Greenwood’s contract runs until 2026.
Manchester United are reportedly likely to trigger a one-year extension clause in Mason Greenwood’s contract to preserve his market value – even if he doesn’t return to play there
Greenwood was loaned out following the completion of an internal club investigation
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Maintaining Greenwood’s market value and preventing him from leaving for nothing next year will benefit Getafe, who have included a 20 percent sell-on clause in their loan agreement.
This was inserted to compensate Getafe for offering Greenwood the opportunity to play in a top league late last summer, having not played competitively for more than 18 months.
His move to Spain was controversial, despite charges of rape, assault and coercive control against the player being dropped by Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service in February 2023. Greenwood denied all allegations against him.
Following an internal club investigation, the decision was made to send Greenwood out on loan.
The expectation at the time was that Greenwood would never play for United again, but new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe opened the door to a possible return after buying a 27.7 percent stake in the club in December.
“Obviously we have to make a decision,” Ratcliffe said.
‘The process will be to understand the facts, not the hype, and then try to come to a fair decision based on value – is he a good guy or not – and answer whether he could genuinely play for Manchester United and would we be too? feel comfortable with it and would the fans feel comfortable with it?’
Reports in late February suggested Greenwood has ‘no great desire’ to play for United again and is ‘reluctant’ to return to Old Trafford. It was said that Greenwood believes the club ‘could have supported him better’ in his case.
United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe opened the door for Greenwood’s return to play for United, but it is clear the player has little appetite for it.
Greenwood’s loan spell in Spain has proven successful with eight goals and five assists
Greenwood has found good form in Spain, scoring eight goals and providing five assists for Getafe in 28 games this season.
Although they are keen for him to stay, Getafe believe Greenwood wants to play in the Champions League next season. They may still qualify for the Europa League, but that seems unlikely.
If United do not activate the one-year contract extension, they will have to sell Greenwood this summer to recoup his full transfer value.
He could talk to foreign clubs next January and potential suitors would probably wait until the summer of 2025, knowing he would be available for nothing.
Activating the extension until 2026 would boost United’s prospects of securing a significant fee for the forward.
As Greenwood are a product of their own academy, any transfer fee would amount to pure profit, allowing them to comply with UEFA and Premier League financial fair play rules.