Manchester United’s wage nightmare: How the club is wasting money

Over the years, Manchester United have been heavily criticized for how the club has spent large sums of money on players who have not been good enough. Since the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson retired, United have struggled to find their way back to their glory days. Instead of fighting for the league title, the club has most often been relegated to fighting for a place in the top four.

After a solid first season as manager, Erik ten Hag seemed to be the man to lead the club back to the top of the Premier League. He spent large sums of money to strengthen the squad. But when last season ended far below expectations, he was sacked by the new management after a 2-1 defeat to West Ham United.

Read: It was Solskjaer who gave Kobbie Mainoo the coolest experience in the Manchester United shirt

Despite all the worries surrounding Erik ten Hag, he is surprisingly high on the list of managers since Ferguson. For Ruben Amorim, on the other hand, the picture is not quite so pretty. He was named as Ten Hag’s replacement, but the club went back even further under the Portuguese. After only 14 tough months, he was fired and replaced by Michael Carrick.

Despite United’s problems, several of the players at Old Trafford have very high salaries. Here we take a closer look at what everyone in the Red Devils squad is currently earning (the numbers are mainly via Capology).

Goalkeepers

After Andre Onana’s troubles, United opted to sign the young and relatively inexperienced Senne Lammens, giving him a contract worth £60,000 a week. The Belgian has been steady between the sticks and has been a marked improvement compared to his Cameroonian predecessor.

Tom Heaton, now 39, has only made three appearances for United since arriving in 2021. Despite his status as the third goalkeeper, he earns £45,000 a week – more than Altay Bayindir, who is a reserve for Lammens.

Defenders

Matthijs de Ligt became the club’s highest-paid defender after Raphaël Varane left the club. The Dutchman earns just under £200,000 a week.

Read on F7: Real Madrid’s superstar: “I couldn’t work with Alonso”

Harry Maguire, one of the club’s most experienced players, took a pay cut to extend his stay. He used to earn £190,000 a week, but now earns £150,000 after signing a new contract until 2027, according to Salary Leaks.

Luke Shaw has been heavily injury-plagued throughout his time at United, but when he is available, he is still a quality defender. He earns £150,000 a week.

Key statistics: Leny Yoro is the fifth most expensive teenager in football history. He completed his move to Old Trafford for £52 million.

Midfielders

It is in midfield that Manchester United’s financial burden really comes to the fore. Casemiro is by far the Red Devils’ highest-paid player with a staggering £350,000 a week. He will leave the club in the summer when United cut their wage budget.

The only player who has truly earned a salary of over £100,000 a week recently is Bruno Fernandes. For the second season in a row, he was the Premier League’s biggest sea caper, with 114 assists created last season. With a salary of £300,000 a week, that’s not more than one might expect.

Mason Mount – who has scored just seven goals and recorded two assists for the club – is the third highest-paid midfielder with £150,000 a week. He has struggled a lot with injuries since the transfer, which makes his salary extra difficult to defend. Manuel Ugarte has also struggled to justify his salary of £120,000 a week.

Kobbie Mainoo, one of the Premier League’s biggest young talents, earns just £25,000 a week. He is expected to extend his stay at his childhood club after playing his way back into the team under Carrick.

Strikers

Matheus Cunha, who signed for the club in a £62.5 million deal from Wolves last summer, is now earning £180,000 a week. Bryan Mbeumo also joined Old Trafford in the same transfer window and is set to earn £150,000 a week. The club’s new striker, Benjamin Sesko, reportedly earns £160,000 a week.

Amad Diallo had a sensational start to the 2024/25 season and was rewarded with a new five-and-a-half-year contract, believed to be worth £120,000 a week. Dutchman Joshua Zirkzee earns £105,000 a week.

Chido Obi seems to have a very bright future ahead of him, but for now he is United’s lowest-paid striker at £15,000 a week.

Source for player salaries: Capology, unless otherwise stated. Correct as of 4 August 2026.