From the Guardian · · 1m 30s
Manchester United's seventh straight loss despite record revenue
The club lost £43m in 2025-26 while hitting record revenue of £677.6m, raising questions about spending and debt.
In brief
The club lost £43m in 2025-26 while hitting record revenue of £677.6m, raising questions about spending and debt. Manchester United is caught in a financial trap: record revenue and cost-cutting aren't enough to offset massive debt servicing costs and one-off expenses like manager payoffs. Originally reported by the…
Seventh straight year in the red
Manchester United reported a £43m net loss for 2025-26, their seventh consecutive annual loss. Combined losses since 2019 now total £444m.
“Manchester United have reported an annual loss for the seventh successive year, taking the club's combined losses to £444m since 2019.”
Record revenue can't stop the bleeding
Revenue hit £677.6m, up 1.7% year-on-year, yet losses grew from £33m to £43m. Finance costs tripled to £69.2m as debt climbed to £577.6m.
Ratcliffe's cost cuts aren't enough
Sir Jim Ratcliffe cut hundreds of jobs and reduced the wage bill by £11.3m to £301m. Yet the club still lost money despite these cuts.
Grass clumps and stadium dreams
United relaid Old Trafford's pitch for the first time in 14 years and is selling seven-by-seven centimeter turf clumps to fans for £125 each. The club is also funding a proposed new 100,000-capacity stadium costing over £2bn.
Tight budget for new manager Carrick
Michael Carrick will work with a constrained transfer budget after United spent £155m on three players this summer. CEO Omar Berrada said spending was planned with financial sustainability in mind.
Champions League return offers hope
United forecasts revenue of £740m to £760m for 2026-27, boosted by Champions League return and new sponsorship deals worth £42m annually from Betway and SumUp.
At a glance
Manchester United is caught in a financial trap: record revenue and cost-cutting aren't enough to offset massive debt servicing costs and one-off expenses like manager payoffs.
