Photo by Kevin Voigt/GettyImages
Photo by Kevin Voigt/GettyImages
In recent seasons, Manchester United players would receive a 25% boost to their wages if they qualified for the Champions League.
In the 2026/27 season, Manchester United will return to the Champions League for the first time since 2023/24.
The Champions League draw is set to take place later this month on August 27. As a result of United’s qualification, it was reported that players were set for a 25% pay rise.
However, The Telegraph have outlined an interesting change made by Ineos in the way that the player contracts have been structured.
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe arrives at Old Trafford
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Not all Man United players qualify for 25% pay rise
Back in May, The Guardian reported that most United players would benefit from the Champions League pay clauses, but that has been challenged by a new report.
James Ducker writes that only players who played 60% of the team’s minutes in a season will qualify for the pay rise.
These changes were brought in by Ineos, who have been trying to modernise and regain control of United’s wage bill.
Instead of a flat wage increase across the board, now only players who had a significant impact on the top-five finish will be rewarded.
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The report adds that the new structure of United contracts and the refined Champions League clauses were introduced in 2023.
Therefore, players with ‘legacy’ contracts from the previous system are still eligible for the pay rise, even if they didn’t play 60% or more of the minutes in 2025/26.
That applies to the likes of Marcus Rashford, Andre Onana and Mason Mount, who all signed their contracts before or in 2023.
READ MORE: All Manchester United player wages for the 2026/27 season, Ranked
Despite none of this trio playing over 60% of the minutes, they are all getting a wage increase this season.
Rashford is already one of United’s top earners, and his wages will now easily exceed the £300,000 per week mark.