Manchester United striker leaves on season-long loan deal after goal struggles

Manchester United striker Joe Hugill has again left the club on loan. Hugill, 21, has agreed to join League Two Barnet for the entirety of the 2025-26 season.

Hugill, who moved to United's academy from Sunderland as a highly-rated teenager in 2020, has made the London club his fifth temporary home while on United's books.

He spent part of 2023 with Altrincham and part of 2024 with Burton Albion - scoring just one league goal for each - before spending the first half of last season on loan at Wigan Athletic in League One. He scored three goals in 13 league appearances before being recalled by United and sent to League Two, with Carlisle United.

Hugill scored just twice in 16 league games for Carlisle, under the guidance of former United favourite Mark Hughes. But it was a nightmare time at Brunton Park, as Carlisle were relegated to the National League.

While they went down, Barnet were promoted back to the EFL.

Mapping out his ambitions for the upcoming season, Hugill told Barnet's club website : "I think it's just obviously playing a lot of games, scoring a lot of goals is the main thing for a striker, but I'm still pretty young – still 21 – so I think it's just getting the games under my belt and having a really good season."

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Bees manager Dean Brennan added: "We've been after this type of player for a long time. Even though he's tall, his movements and attributes are all in behind.

"He's got pace, excellent finisher, very dynamic – we want him to look down the barrel of the goal.

"He's such an exciting player, he's like a Jamie Vardy/Michael Owen type."

It is a critical year for Hugill as he looks to make a career for himself in the Football League. He has just one year left on his Old Trafford deal and turns 22 in October.

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