Alejandro Garnacho

Manchester United In October 2020, Garnacho joined the Manchester United Academy. United paid Atlético a £420,000 fee. He signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2021. After being named as an unused substitute for several Premier League matches, he made his first-team debut for United on 28 April, replacing Anthony Elanga in the 91st minute of a 1–1 draw against Chelsea. Garnacho won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in May. He scored twice in the final of the FA Youth Cup against Nottingham Forest on 11 May, helping United win the competition for the first time since 2011. thumb

For the start of the 2022–23 Premier League season, he changed his shirt number from 75 to 49. On 4 October, he scored a late winner for United's U-21 against Barrow in the 2022–23 EFL Trophy. Garnacho made his first senior start for United on 27 October, in a 3–0 win over Moldovan team Sheriff Tiraspol in the UEFA Europa League, whereafter he was praised by manager Erik ten Hag for his improvement over the past few weeks, saying that though previously dissatisfied, he was happy with Garnacho's improved attitude and resilience. On 3 November, he scored his first senior goal in a Europa League match against Real Sociedad with an assist from his idol Cristiano Ronaldo, and scored his first goal in the Premier League on 13 November, an injury-time winner against Fulham. On 14 January 2023 in the Manchester derby, Garnacho set up Marcus Rashford's 82nd-minute winner in a 2–1 win against Manchester City. On 14 March, Garnacho announced he would be sidelined for several weeks after suffering an ankle ligament injury during a game against Southampton. On 28 April, Garnacho signed a new contract extension that will last until 30 June 2028. On 13 May, Garnacho returned from two months out with injury, scoring the second goal in a 2–0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

At the beginning of the 2023–24 Premier League season, United announced that Garnacho's squad number would be changed from 49 to 17. On 26 November, Garnacho scored his first league goal of the season with a bicycle kick from 15 yards out to open the scoring in a 3–0 win over Everton, earning him the Premier League Goal of the Month for November 2023, Three days later, he scored his first Champions League goal in a 3–3 away draw against Galatasaray. On 26 December, Garnacho scored two goals in a 3–2 comeback win against Aston Villa. On 4 February 2024, he scored another brace in a 3–0 win over West Ham United. On 4 April, he scored twice once again, this time in a 4–3 away defeat to Chelsea, becoming the first teenager to score braces in three Premier League matches in a single season since Michael Owen in 1998–99. In the FA Cup final on 25 May, Garnacho scored the opening goal in an eventual 2–1 win over Manchester City. His goal in the final was the first for a teenager since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004, and he also became the second Argentinian to score after Ricardo Villa's brace for Tottenham Hotspur also against City in 1981.

On 10 August, Garnacho opened the scoring against Manchester City in the FA Community Shield. The match eventually ended in a 1–1 draw and went to penalties, and although Garnacho converted his penalty, United lost the shoot-out 7–6. On 17 September, he scored two goals and provided two assists in United's 7–0 rout of Barnsley in the third round of the EFL Cup. On 27 October, Garnacho made his 100th appearance for United in a 2–1 defeat to West Ham at London Stadium; manager Erik ten Hag was sacked less than 24 hours after the result, with assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy taking charge on an interim basis. Prior to a Europa League match against PAOK on 7 November, a clip emerged on social media of a fan verbally abusing Garnacho while signing autographs. Three days later, in Van Nistelrooy's final match as interim, he scored United's third goal in their 3–0 win over Leicester City. He did not celebrate the goal as, according to United captain Bruno Fernandes, he felt he had "lost faith" from some supporters. New head coach Ruben Amorim dropped Garnacho alongside Marcus Rashford from the squad completely for the Manchester derby on 15 December, which United won 2–1.

Chelsea On 30 August 2025, Garnacho signed for fellow Premier League club Chelsea for a reported fee of £40m. Garnacho made his debut for Chelsea in a 2–2 draw with Brentford on 13 September, coming on as a substitute for João Pedro in the 79th minute. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 loss to Sunderland on 25 October.

Loan to Aston Villa On 23 July 2026, Garnacho signed for fellow Premier League club Aston Villa on a season-long loan, with an obligation to buy if certain undisclosed conditions were met.

International career Garnacho was eligible to play for his country of birth, Spain, and Argentina, as his mother is Argentine. He made three appearances for the Spain under-18 team in 2021.

On 7 March 2022, Garnacho was called up to the senior Argentina team as part of an initial 44-man squad for their two World Cup qualifiers that month. He made it to the final 33-man squad for the fixtures, but did not make an appearance in either game.

Garnacho made his debut for the Argentina under-20 side on 26 March, when he started in a friendly match against the United States. He scored four goals in four appearances

In March 2023, he was called up once again to the senior Argentina team for two friendly matches against Panama and Curaçao, but had to withdraw from the squad after suffering an ankle injury.

In June 2024, Garnacho was included in Lionel Scaloni's final 26-man Argentina squad for the 2024 Copa América. He appeared once in a 2–0 group stage win over Peru as Argentina went on to win the tournament.

Style of play An energetic forward, Garnacho has been praised for his speed and dribbling abilities, as well as his ability to create chances and get into the box. He has frequently been deployed as a winger on either the left or right flank. United coach Mike Phelan described him as "everything that Manchester United is about" and "an intelligent player who understands his role in the team".

Garnacho's style of play has been heavily influenced by that of former United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, whom he idolises. He frequently performs Ronaldo's iconic goal celebrations when scoring goals himself.

Personal life Garnacho was born in Madrid to a Spanish father, Alex Garnacho, and an Argentine mother, Patricia Ferreyra Fernández. He has a younger brother named Roberto. His father Alex is closely associated with management firm, Leader Sports Management, who currently represent Garnacho.

Career statistics Club

International

Honours Manchester United U18 FA Youth Cup: 2021–22 runner-up: 2022–23 EFL Cup: 2022–23 UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2024–25

Chelsea FA Cup runner-up: 2025–26

Argentina Copa América: 2024

Individual Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year: 2021–22 Maurice Revello Tournament Best XI: 2022 Maurice Revello Tournament Goal of the Tournament: 2022 Awards for goal vs. Everton (26 November 2023) FIFA Puskás Award: 2024 Premier League Goal of the Season: 2023–24 BBC Goal of the Season: 2023–24 Manchester United Goal of the Season: 2023–24