The Astonishing Amount Manchester United Has Spent on Signings
Manchester United has spent €240 million on signings this summer while enforcing harsh internal cuts, prioritizing star arrivals like Benjamin Šeško over the welfare of its staff.
With the recent arrival of Benjamin Šeško at Old Trafford, Manchester United has spent €240 million this summer on four new signings. This massive outlay contrasts sharply with the plight of hundreds of club employees who were laid off as part of an aggressive cost-cutting plan led by Jim Ratcliffe and his company INEOS.
Record spending amid internal austerity
Since Ratcliffe took partial control in December 2023, the club has enforced strict measures to reduce losses that reached €360 million over the past three years. Missing out on European competition and finishing a disappointing 15th in the Premier League only worsened the financial picture.
In 2024, the club dismissed 250 workers, followed by another 200 in May 2025. Historic perks such as the Christmas dinner, paid trips to finals, free meals at the training ground, and even the pension of club legend Sir Alex Ferguson were removed.
Ratcliffe defended these decisions by stating that without them, the club “would run out of money by Christmas” and insisted the priority was to invest in elite players to win trophies.
Four signings, zero income from direct sales
This transfer window, United brought in Šeško (€85M), Bryan Mbeumo (€75M), Matheus Cunha (€74M), and Diego León (€4M), marking the fourth straight season the club has spent over €200 million. The only significant savings came from Marcus Rashford’s loan to Barcelona, freeing up £14 million in wages, and academy sales of Álvaro Carreras, Anthony Elanga, and Maxi Oyedele, which brought in €20 million.
The club also received €5 million from Chelsea for failing to complete the permanent signing of Jadon Sancho. However, situations like the possible €40 million sale of Alejandro Garnacho and the expected departure of Rasmus Højlund for less than the €78 million he cost two years ago highlight a concerning drop in player value.
Despite already spending €240 million, United is expected to remain active in the market, targeting Carlos Baleba from Brighton, a club known for driving hard bargains — as seen in the sales of Marc Cucurella and Moisés Caicedo.
