Manchester United have seen their finances impacted by the absence of European football at Old Trafford but they could soon receive a welcome boost amid growing optimisim at the club
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick celebrates
Manchester United could receive a huge financial boost if they regularly qualify for the Champions League (Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester United could reportedly go on to earn more than £175million if they regularly participate in the UEFA Champions League.
The Reds have not played in Europe's elite competition since being knocked out of the group stages in late 2023 under Erik ten Hag. United have since finished eighth and 15th in the Premier League and only played in the Europa League last season after winning the 2024 FA Cup.
United then missed a golden opportunity to qualify for the Champions League when they lost the Europa League final 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in May under Ruben Amorim. The Reds have no European football at Old Trafford this term for the first time since 2014/15.
But there is genuine optimism that they will make a return to the Champions League through their top-flight position this season. United currently sit fourth in the table after Sunday's 3-2 win at league leaders Arsenal - with fifth also likely to be enough to seal qualification.
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And according to fresh industry research, United’s proposed 100,000 capacity 'New Trafford' stadium could unlock millions of pounds from a long-term naming rights agreement. The club's stadium naming rights are estimated to be worth £15million a year – the most valuable in English football – ahead of Wembley and Arsenal's Emirates stadium, both valued at £12.5million a year.
The figures emerged in The Sponsor's European Stadium Naming Rights Fair Market Value Report, via the Sun. It said: "The valuation reflects the scale of the redevelopment, projected capacity, modern infrastructure, Manchester United’s global fanbase and the international reach of the Premier League."
It is said that, should the club sustain its current sporting standing and boost worldwide visibility through consistent participation in the Champions League, the long-term value of a naming rights deal could surpass £175million.
UEFA Champions League trophy
Manchester United have not been in the Champions League since the 2023/24 season (Image: Getty Images)
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The possibility of European football at M16 again will be a welcome boost for United after they endured a significant drop in the latest Deloitte Football Money League ranking. The Reds went from fourth to eighth in the Money League following a historically poor campaign last season.
United's revenue last year sat at £691m (€793m) but it was their broadcast revenue that plummeted from £224m (€258m) to £179m (€206m) after they failed to qualify for European football.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire told the Manchester Evening News this month that United's slide in the Money League ranking is a major concern.
He said: "When Sir Alex was there and even in the initial years [after he left], it was a toss-up at the start of each season whether it would be United or Real or Barcelona as to who would be top of that money list.
"I think it’s reflective of the tough times that the club’s going through and there's a genuine fear that they could fall out of the top 10 next season. Sir Jim Ratcliffe describes them as the world's leading football brand, but if the world's leading football brand is outside of the top 10 of revenue generators, then that's not very promising."