UEFA’s report stated that Manchester United’s squad last season was the most expensive in football history. This fact is displayed in the European Club Finance and Investment Landscape report.
This report is the second of two reports produced by UEFA this season, in which the UEFA Intelligence Center explores and analyzes the European football landscape. It also documents the successes and challenges of European clubs.
Moreover, The Man United squad at the end of the 2023 financial year has a price tag of 1.21 billion pounds in combined transfer fees. Erik ten Hag’s squad overtook Real Madrid’s 2020 squad which had a combined transfer value of 1.13 billion pounds
Interestingly, this figure was further increased by the purchases of Rasmus Hojlund (72 million pounds), Mason Mount (55 million pounds) and Andre Onana (47 million), all of which came in the summer transfer market. In addition, UEFA’s report adds that United’s eye-watering sum is joined by Premier League rivals Manchester City, Chelsea, as well as European giants Real Madrid, who all topped £1bn ($1.26bn) in squad values for 2023.
Meanwhile, that expensive squad could only lead United to third in the Premier League standings last season, 14 points behind eventual champions Manchester City. This season, they are down to sixth and already 14 points behind league leaders Liverpool.
Bruno Fernandes et al also advanced to the FA Cup final before being defeated by Man City. The same report also said that after the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS group Man United became one of 15 Premier League clubs that are now part of the multi-club ownership model.
Money can’t buy performance as the Premier League also featured the third most expensive squad in the world in Chelsea. Under the new ownership of Todd Boehly, the Blues compiled a squad costing €1.08 billion in transfer fees buoyed by the setting of a British transfer record to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for €107 million to bolster the midfield. Todd Boehly’s Blues were recently told they could spend up to another £350m ($439m) in the coming transfer period if the right player sales are sanctioned.
