The Denmark international completed his switch to the Italian club for a fixed fee this season after an impressive campaign in Italy, though the Old Trafford outfit may not have secured the best possible price for the forward.
Hojlund arrived at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in a deal worth £43.2million, yet assessments from the CIES Football Observatory suggest the Red Devils could have commanded an additional £66.8million for the striker.
The 21-year-old arrived at Manchester from Atalanta in 2023 in a transaction potentially worth £72million, carrying significant expectations. The forward struggled to justify his valuation during his time in England.
During his debut top-flight season, he managed ten goals from thirty league outings, offering glimpses of his ability. The following campaign proved considerably more challenging. With the club ending the term in fifteenth spot, Hojlund found the net just four times across thirty-two appearances, while his strike partner managed only two goals from twenty-four games.
Despite expressing a desire to remain and compete for his position at the Theatre of Dreams, the forward was dispatched to Naples on loan for the 2025/26 season, with Napoli obligated to trigger a permanent purchase for £43.2million should certain conditions be satisfied.
Those conditions were fulfilled following Hojlund’s contribution of twelve goals and six assists in Serie A action, prompting Napoli to complete the transfer. Although many supporters viewed the transaction favourably, calculations from CIES paint a different picture.
The organisation estimates the striker’s current market value at £110million, accounting for the buying club’s financial capabilities and applying a variance of 7.5 percent above and below the valuation. The calculation also incorporates full economic rights, potential add-ons, and inflation adjustments from recent transfer windows, while excluding potential buyout clauses.
Despite his disappointing Premier League spell, Hojlund, still in his early twenties, retains opportunity for growth. Given his prolific Italian form, the forward could draw attention from major European clubs should he maintain his current output.
The sale proceeds could prove useful for United as they seek to bolster their attacking options before the upcoming transfer window closes. The team suffered a 2-0 defeat at newly-promoted Hull City at the weekend, offering minimal offensive threat throughout the match.
Whether the result will prompt INEOS to reassess their strategy with limited time remaining remains uncertain, though the club is expected to focus primarily on acquiring another central midfielder and a left-back.