While things on the pitch are beginning to look positive for Manchester United, financial issues away from the field are beginning to mount up in alarming fashion
Patrick Austen-Hardy Senior Sports Journalist
09:44, 27 Feb 2026
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 30: Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United, looks on at half time during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on December 30, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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Ruben Amorim could soon be about to receive even more compensation from Manchester United(Image: Carl Recine, Getty Images)
Fresh financial documents have disclosed Manchester United must repay £295million in borrowings and £238million in transfer fees within 12 months – and are also liable for additional payments to the dismissed Ruben Amorim.
It has also emerged the club might potentially shell out £15.9million in a possible settlement to Amorim, having already spent £6.3m to write off the amortisation of his contract. The latest financial figures for the second quarter of the year, published on Wednesday, have already indicated United's financial debt is nearing the £1.3billion threshold.
A substantial chunk of this sum is the legacy debt placed on the club by the Glazer family following the leveraged buyout in 2005. There is also a rolling credit facility which stands at a massive £295.7m, having increased by £27m since last year.
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe
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Jim Ratcliffe has been forced to cut costs at Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
Nevertheless, the latest documents have identified over £533m in debts which must be settled within 12 months. Approximately £777m of borrowings have been secured by United.
Roughly £295m of this amount must be repaid within one year. Beyond this sum, the Reds also owe around £422m in transfer fee instalments to various clubs, of which £238m also needs to be paid back within 365 days.
They could also be liable for a substantial payment to Amorim, who was dismissed in January. The club has already spent £6.3m writing off the amortisation of his contract.
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There's also the possibility of a further £15.9m being paid to the Portuguese manager, who secured just 25 victories from his 63 matches at the helm. Regarding Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), United won't face penalties for any of these amounts.
This is because PSR regulations are profit-based rather than debt-based. Nevertheless, these are concerning figures, especially given the club's debt levels were £12m before the Glazers' takeover.
Last August, football finance blogger Swiss Ramble noted Everton and Tottenham Hotspur ranked above United in terms of debt, though much of theirs stems from the new stadiums they've built.
Supporters take part in a protest by The 1958 fan group before the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Picture date: Sunday February 1, 2026. PA Photo
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There were significant protests before United's home victory over Fulham(Image: PA)
United continue to plan a new 100,000-capacity stadium, anticipated to be ready by the 2030/31 season. With an estimated price tag of £2bn, exactly how this would be financed remains uncertain.
Regular protests have targeted the Glazer family as well as minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has made hundreds of staff redundant since his stake acquisition was finalised. Ratcliffe has insisted these decisions, while "unpopular" had to be made.
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In an interview with Sky Sports, Ratcliffe said: "I've seen quite a bit of this at the football club (people making unpopular decisions).
"If you do difficult things, which we felt that we had to do at Manchester United... we felt like they were the right things to do. But you do become very unpopular for a while."
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