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According to a recent UEFA report, Manchester United’s squad at the end of last season has become the most expensive squad ever assembled.
At the financial year-end of 2023, the Red Devils’ squad cost a staggering €1.42 billion (£1.21 billion) in transfer fees, surpassing the previous record of €1.33 billion held by Real Madrid in 2020.
Notable players in United’s 2022-23 squad include the £82 million Brazilian winger Antony, £80 million England defender Harry Maguire, £73 million signing Jadon Sancho, and £60 million Brazilian midfielder Casemiro.
It’s important to note that additional recruits such as Mason Mount, Andre Onana, and Rasmus Hojlund from the previous summer are not accounted for in these figures.
The UEFA report also revealed that Manchester City, Chelsea, and Real Madrid are among the three other clubs whose squads have also exceeded €1 billion in transfer fees during their most recently disclosed financial year-end.
Furthermore, Manchester United is recognized as one of the 15 English top-flight clubs involved in a multi-club investment group. The club has seen the purchase of a 25% stake by Ineos founder Jim Ratcliffe, who also holds majority stakes in French side Nice and Swiss club Lausanne.
The report discovered that a total of 105 top-division European clubs (13% of the total number) have cross-investment relationships with one or more other clubs.
Addressing the financial landscape, Andrea Traverso, UEFA’s director of financial sustainability and research, emphasized the need for strict enforcement of cost control regulations and greater harmonization of financial rules between leagues. This is crucial to curb overspending, “creative finance,” and rule circumvention.
