City ownership scandal puts Man Utd's £852m interest bill in focus
Manchester City's owners were found to have injected £830m into the club, while Manchester United's leveraged takeover has cost £852m in net interest since 2005, reigniting fan frustration at Old Trafford.
The Premier League ruled that Manchester City's owners, Abu Dhabi United Group, paid £830.69m to the club, circumventing financial regulations. The judgement came just days after Manchester United filed accounts for the year to 30 June 2026, which showed a £37m interest payment, up from £34m.
Football finance blogger Swiss Ramble estimates United's net interest payments since the Glazer family's leveraged takeover in 2005 have reached £852m. Supporters of both Manchester clubs have noted the contrast: one ownership group has put money in, while the other has taken a similar sum out.
United's accounts reported record revenues of £677.6m, with a projection of up to £760m for 2026-27, after a third-place finish secured a Champions League return. Chief executive Omar Berrada said the club would maintain a disciplined approach to sustainability. United spent £191.7m on new players including Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, and borrowed an additional £90m, taking overall debt to £1.15bn.
Transfer debt stands at £375m, with £218m due before 30 June 2027, and up to £122.8m more owed if signed players meet contract targets. The club also spent £63.5m on land for a proposed new stadium. Some fans argue that money would be better invested in Michael Carrick's squad.
United's wage bill was the fifth highest in the Premier League at £313m in 2024-25, falling to £302m without European football. Their wages-to-turnover ratio of 45% was the best in the league. Carrick's side currently sit 12th and face bottom-club Tottenham at Old Trafford on 10 October.
Since selling Romelu Lukaku for £74m in 2019, United have only generated more than £25m for a player four times. A 2023 Premier League vote capped future leveraged buyouts at around 65% of a club's value, a move many United fans feel came 18 years too late.
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