Rasmus Winther Højlund (born February 4, 2003) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester United and the Danish national team.
Højlund graduated from Copenhagen’s development academy and made his first-team debut for the club at the age of 17 in October 2020.
After scoring five goals in 32 appearances for Copenhagen, he moved to Austrian club Sturm Graz in January 2022. Later that year, he joined Atalanta for €17 million.
Højlund represented Denmark in youth international football at the under-16 and under-21 levels. He made his senior international debut in September 2022.
Early Life
From an early age, Rasmus, born on February 4, 2003, had an innate talent and passion for football. Growing up in Hørsholm, the Capital Region of Denmark, he spent hours polishing his talents on the streets and fields of his city.
With a background in amateur football and construction, he developed a passion for football. Notably, Rasmus shares his football adventure with his younger twin brothers Emil and Oscar, who play for Copenhagen FC.
Rasmus’ future success was shaped by Hojlund’s consistent family support and mentoring throughout boyhood.
Career
Club career
Højlund was born in Copenhagen and raised in Hørsholm, Capital Region. He previously played youth football for HUI and Brøndby before joining Copenhagen’s youth system.
He made his professional debut for Copenhagen at the age of 17 on October 25, 2020.
During the 2021-22 season, he made his European debut, scoring five goals in the UEFA Europa Conference League’s qualification rounds and the tournament proper.
Sturm Graz
In January 2022, Højlund signed Austrian Bundesliga team Sturm Graz for a reported €1.8 million cost.
He scored 12 goals in 21 games across all competitions from the end of the 2021-22 season to the start of the 2022-23 season.
Atalanta
On August 27, 2022, Højlund joined Serie A club Atalanta for a reported €17 million. He scored his first goal for Atalanta on September 5th, in a 2-0 away win over Monza.
Initially limited to a substitute role at the start of the season, he fought out a spot for himself in the team due to the poor form and injuries of regular starter Duván Zapata.
In January 2023, he delivered numerous impressive performances, including four goals in four consecutive games.
Manchester United
On July 29, 2023, Manchester United signed Højlund from Atalanta for an initial £64 million cost plus £8 million in performance-related add-ons.
The player committed to a five-year contract with an option for an additional year. He was then formally named as a United player on August 5, 2023, pending international clearance.
Højlund made his Premier League debut on September 3, 2023, replacing Anthony Martial in the 67th minute during a 3-1 loss to Arsenal.
On September 20, Højlund scored his first goal for the club in a 4-3 away defeat against Bayern Munich in the 2023-24 Champions League opener.
He scored twice in Manchester United’s second Champions League encounter against Galatasaray at Old Trafford, although the team lost 3-2, and he was awarded man of the match.
On November 8, he scored twice in his return to Parken as Manchester United fell 4-3 to his previous club FC Copenhagen.
On December 26, Højlund scored his first Premier League goal in a 3-2 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
Højlund scored the opening goal in Manchester United’s 3-0 win over West Ham on February 4, 2024, which also happened to be his 21st birthday.
On February 11, Højlund scored the first goal against Aston Villa in a 2-1 away win. In doing so, he became the second-youngest player to score in five consecutive Premier League appearances, trailing only Nicolas Anelka.
In a 2-1 victory over Luton Town on February 18, 2024, Højlund broke Joe Willock’s record by scoring his first brace of the regular season and became the youngest player to score in six straight Premier League games.
On March 8, Højlund became the first Danish player to earn the Premier League Player of the Month title.
International career
In September 2022, Højlund made his international debut for Denmark against Croatia and France in the UEFA Nations League.
On March 23, 2023, he made his debut international appearance, scoring a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory against Finland in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualification tournament, his first goal for his country. He finished the qualification process as Denmark’s leading scorer, with seven goals.
Personal Life
Rasmus Højlund is in a love relationship with 20-year-old Laura Rhod Sondergaard, also from Denmark.
The pair has been together for quite some time now, and their bond is strong as they continue to support each other’s professional endeavors.
Net Worth
Rasmus Højlund’s net worth is estimated at $500,000. However, it has recently been claimed that he has agreed with the Red Devils to obtain a big wage boost.
Rasmus Højlund gets €5 million a year, more than eight times his present wage of €600,000.
This large boost in income is a critical milestone in his professional and financial life.