Greenwood had been suspended by Manchester United indefinitely in January 2022 after being arrested on suspicion of rape and assault. The allegations stemmed from online accusations made by a woman. Subsequently, he faced additional arrests on suspicion of sexual assault, making threats to kill, and was charged with attempted rape, assault causing actual bodily harm, and engaging in controlling and coercive behavior.
However, in February, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped all charges against Greenwood due to the withdrawal of key witnesses and the emergence of new evidence that diminished the likelihood of a conviction. During this period, Greenwood was seen training on his own while Manchester United conducted an internal review. The club allegedly received data from these sessions in anticipation of his potential reintegration.
The potential return of Greenwood triggered substantial controversy, leading Manchester United to officially declare that the 21-year-old has played his final match for the team.
While Greenwood remains under contract with Erik ten Hag's squad until 2025, with the option of an additional 12 months, ESPN reports that both English and foreign teams have displayed interest in signing him on a loan or permanent basis. Manchester United is motivated to resolve Greenwood's future prior to the transfer window's closure on September 1. If not, both parties are likely to agree on a mutual contract termination.
Currently, a move to either Saudi Arabia or Turkey appears to be the most plausible path for Greenwood. Since his initial suspension and arrest, he has also become a father. While Manchester United isn't seeking monetary compensation for his departure, internal discussions within the club are expected to determine how any funds generated from his sale will be utilized.
Greenwood's exit from Manchester United will mark the end of a journey that saw him score 35 goals and provide 12 assists in 129 matches since his early days in the youth academy, which he joined at the age of seven.
Greenwood's final appearance for Manchester United was against West Ham United on January 22, 2022. He also made a solitary appearance for the England national team against Iceland in September 2020.
In his own statement, Greenwood refuted the allegations made against him last year, inaccurately stating that he was cleared of the charges. Nevertheless, he acknowledged making "mistakes" in his personal relationships.
