A triggered obligation-to-buy clause secures a significant windfall as the Danish forward seals his permanent exit, providing vital funds for United to bolster their depleted attacking ranks.
Last summer, Benjamin Šeško's £74m transfer to Manchester United capped off a summer focused on rebuilding the club's forward line, having already signed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
The Slovenian forward had a relatively slow start to life at his new club, scoring just two goals between the start of the season and the new year. After Ruben Amorim's sacking, the 22-year-old scored three times in Darren Fletcher's two-game spell in charge of Manchester United, and he hasn't looked back since.
Šeško has been excellent since Michael Carrick took over, ending the season on a great run of form, after scoring seven goals in the 13 fixtures he has featured in under Carrick.
Højlund says goodbye to Man Utd
Despite featuring in pre-season for Man Utd, Højlund's turbulent time at Old Trafford came to an end, joining Serie A side Napoli on a £5m loan deal, with a £38m obligation to buy should Napoli qualify for the Champions League.
After sealing automatic qualification to the Champions League thanks to a 3-0 win over Pisa, in which the Danish forward scored, Fabrizio Romano reported that the buy clause had been triggered.
The Italian journalist also posted quotes given by the Danish forward, saying goodbye to Manchester United. He said, “I’m now officially a Napoli player, and I’m saying goodbye to Manchester United”.
“That feels weird, because for the past year I already feel like a Napoli player. The way you fans supported me, made me feel like home and let me find my confidence again is something I’m so grateful for”.
“To say goodbye to Manchester United is something that kinda feels emotional too. My childhood dream came true by playing at Old Trafford in a red jersey”.
“So the goal today symbolises a new confident start, in which I will give everything for the time ahead to Napoli, and a thank you to all the fans, players and staff of Manchester United who made the dream I had as a kid come true. It’s time for new dreams, so let’s chase them”.
Man Utd need to sign a striker this summer
Benjamin Šeško has been absent from Manchester United's last two matchday squads due to a persistent shin injury, which he picked up against Liverpool, forcing a half-time substitution.
Against Sunderland, Joshua Zirkzee was given a start but failed to make an impact on the game and was substituted in the 65th minute. Against Nottingham Forest, Bryan Mbeumo started at striker, who, despite scoring, is better operating off the right.
While the club will be prioritising a midfield rebuild this summer, it's clear that Manchester United need a better secondary striking option to rotate with Šeško.
With a Champions League campaign and deeper domestic runs to contend with, United cannot just rely on the Slovenian forward to score all of the club's goals, and need a more experienced striking option to both compete with and mentor the likes of Šeško.