Manchester United’s forward, Mason Greenwood, has embarked on a season-long loan to Spanish La Liga side Getafe.
Last month, United and Greenwood reached a mutual agreement for his departure after a six-month internal investigation.
This decision followed the dropping of charges against Greenwood in February, which included attempted rape and assault allegations.
United stated that Greenwood’s move to Getafe allows him to rebuild his career away from the club, and they will continue to support him during this transitional period. Getafe will contribute a portion of Greenwood’s wages.
Greenwood, whose contract with United extends until 2025, has scored 35 goals in 129 games for the club since his debut in 2019 at the age of 17.
His career at United was marred by a period of arrest and allegations related to online material published in January 2022.
Subsequently, Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behavior, and assault causing actual bodily harm.
Nike terminated its sponsorship deal with Greenwood, and Electronic Arts removed him from active squads in its FIFA 22 game.
However, the charges against Greenwood were dropped in February 2023 due to key witnesses withdrawing and new evidence emerging, making a conviction unlikely.
United conducted an internal investigation into the player and mutually agreed with Greenwood that it would be best for him to continue his career away from Old Trafford.
The club acknowledged that the online material did not provide a full picture, and Greenwood did not commit the initially charged offenses.
Greenwood accepted that he made mistakes but maintained his innocence regarding the accusations.
The decision regarding Greenwood’s future had faced delays and debates within the club and among supporters.
A group of female United fans protested his potential return, calling for a zero-tolerance approach to violence against women. The club wanted to consult with its women’s team before making a decision.
Chief executive Richard Arnold explained that while they couldn’t access certain evidence, the available evidence led them to conclude that Greenwood did not commit the charged acts. The handling of the investigation by United drew criticism from former player Gary Neville and TV presenter Rachel Riley.