Napoli have made Rasmus Hojlund’s move from Manchester United permanent for €44m and manager Massimiliano Allegri expects the Denmark striker to deliver at least 20 Serie A goals this season.
The 23-year-old joined Napoli after an initial loan deal, for which the Italian club paid €6m in August 2024. The permanent transfer completed this summer means Napoli have invested a total of €50m in Hojlund, making him the most expensive forward signed by the club during Aurelio De Laurentiis’ ownership.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Hojlund’s move to Naples was arranged quickly last August after an injury to Romelu Lukaku created an immediate need for another striker. De Laurentiis turned to Hojlund, a player Allegri had followed closely during his time at Milan the previous summer.
Allegri now believes Hojlund can move beyond the level of simply reaching double figures and establish himself among the leading goalscorers in the competition. The target set for the season is 20 league goals.
Hojlund made an early impression at Napoli, winning a penalty in his fifth appearance before scoring his first goal for the club in his 14th game. His most productive period arrived around Christmas, when he produced an outstanding performance in the Supercoppa semi-final against Milan and then maintained his momentum in Serie A.
That run included two goals against Juventus, while seven of his league goals came in away matches. His contribution was not limited to domestic football either, with the striker also finding the net in the Champions League.
Hojlund scored twice against Sporting and added another goal against Chelsea, underlining the range of his performances during his first campaign with Napoli.
The investment in the Denmark international places him above the transfer fees Napoli paid for Victor Osimhen, Hirving Lozano and Gonzalo Higuain. With the permanent deal now completed, expectations around Hojlund have risen significantly.
Napoli’s decision to commit €44m after his loan reflects the value the club places on his potential, while Allegri’s 20-goal benchmark indicates the level of production expected from the forward in the season ahead.
Hojlund’s first campaign included a gradual start, a strong spell during the winter and important goals in both Serie A and the Champions League. Napoli will now look for greater consistency and a higher total from a striker who has already shown he can influence matches against some of the strongest opponents in Italy and Europe.
