Manchester United suspended the 22-year-old, who has one England cap, in January 2022 after claims of attempted rape and sexual assault, but prosecutors dropped the charges in February 2023.
Marseille has signed forward Mason Greenwood from Manchester United, the Ligue 1 club announced on Thursday, amid opposition from some of the French team’s supporters.
Manchester United suspended the 22-year-old, who has one England cap, in January 2022 after claims of attempted rape and sexual assault, but prosecutors dropped the charges in February 2023. He spent the season on loan with Getafe in La Liga.
“Olympique de Marseille is pleased to announce the signing of Mason Greenwood from Manchester United. “The 22-year-old striker has signed for the club after a successful medical,” the French club said on their website.
Marseille made no mention of the claims in its statement. Greenwood was dubbed “a precocious talent” and a “English nugget” by them.
The southern club, which finished ninth in Ligue 1 last season, announced that their new striker will wear number 10, but did not identify the term of his contract or the sum paid to Manchester United.
However, the deal is said to be worth around 30 million euros ($32.7 million).
“We wish Mason all the best in his future career,” United stated on their website.
Before the transfer became official, Marseille’s left-wing mayor, Benoit Payan, told French reporters, “I don’t want my club to be covered by shame.”
Greenwood has consistently denied the charges.
“I did not do the things I was accused of, and in February I was cleared of all charges,” he stated when joining Getafe.
“However, I fully accept I made mistakes in my relationship.”
Greenwood made his Champions League debut for Manchester United at the age of 17 and 156 days in 2019, followed by his Premier League debut four days later. He debuted for England in September 2020.
The forward made 129 appearances for United and scored 35 goals, but he hadn’t played for the Premier League team since January 2022.
Greenwood scored 10 goals in 36 appearances for Getafe last season.
His arrival in Marseille comes the day after the official departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the Gabon international who led Marseille’s scoring previous season.
Marseille will face Sunderland in a preseason friendly on August 3 in Bradford, where Greenwood was born.
If he plays, it will be his first game in England since being detained in January 2022 on allegations against him.
