United’s new ownership embarked on a scheme to reduce the club’s excessive spending, but how successful has it been?
When Sir Jim Ratcliffe arrived at Manchester United as chief of the new Ineos regime, one of his primary targets was cutting costs in a club he felt was seriously overspending.
Huge transfer fees for inexperienced or average players, overblown wages for underperforming players. Of course arguably the most publicised was the cost-cutting scheme that saw hundreds of employees lose their jobs. However, much was also done on the pitch. Marcus Rashford was loaned out to Barcelona, saving around £17m a year in wages.
Jadon Sancho was loaned to Aston Villa. With his contract due to expire in the summer, United need no longer worry about his £325,000-a-week take home.
The underperforming Alejandro Garnacho, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund were all shipped out, the latter two on loan, while the Argentinian fetched a decent £40m fee from Chelsea. Antony was sold to Real Betis for £21.6m.
Crucially, the club explored data and targeted players who objective numbers predicted could seriously improve the squad. Premier League-proven players were also brought in in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
As an example of the relative success, all four of United’s summer signings contributed in their recent win against Everton. Cunha, Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko combined on the break to score the 71st-minute winner, while Senne Lammens covered himself in glory between the sticks amid wave after wave of Evertonian corner kicks and crosses.
Additionally, none of the new signings are on wages beyond £150,000 a week, and United aim to closely follow that model in the next windows.
From United’s announcement of their latest financial results, the club made an operating profit of £32.6m, compared to an operating loss of £3.9m around this time in 2025.
Club’s chief executive Omar Berrada said in relation to the figures: “We are now seeing the positive financial impact of our off-pitch transformation materialise both in our costs and profitability. We continue to take a football first approach and invest in both our men’s and women’s first teams.
“On the pitch our men’s team sit 4th in the Premier League and our women’s team are 2nd in the Women’s Super League, as well as reaching the League Cup Final and the quarter final of the Uefa Women’s Champions League.
“Today’s results demonstrate the underlying strength of our business as we continue to push for the best football results possible for our men’s and women’s teams.”
Of course, with United on course for a top-five finish that will secure Champions League football next season, the club can expect even more robust financial health over the next year. And it’s all thanks to Ineos and Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting schemes.
