Manchester United manager Michael Carrick [Reuters]
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick [Reuters]

Manchester United's total debt has surpassed 1.15 billion pounds, even as the English Premier League club's results have slipped back into mid-table.

The BBC reported Friday (Korean Standard Time) that United took out an additional 90 million pounds ($114 million) in loans after June 30, a fact disclosed in a filing the club submitted to the New York Stock Exchange. The same filing shows United's total debt stands at 1.15 billion pounds. The borrowing comes despite sweeping cost-cutting measures introduced after Jim Ratcliffe became co-owner in 2024, which have done nothing to reduce the club's liabilities.

Much of the money flowed into the summer transfer market. United spent 191.7 million pounds on new signings this summer, bringing in Andrei Santos from Chelsea on July 31, Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa on Aug. 14, and Carlos Baleba from Brighton on Aug. 25.

However, the combined transfer fees United disclosed for the three players amount to only 153 million pounds, leaving a gap of 38.7 million pounds that the club has not accounted for publicly.

The heavy spending has yet to translate into results. United's best finishes over the past decade were two second-place efforts in the 2017-18 and 2020-21 seasons. The club slid as low as 15th in the 2024-25 season, and while last season brought a rebound to third place, United have managed only one win, two draws and two defeats through five rounds this season, leaving them 12th.


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