Manchester United set to make up to 250 staff redundant in cost-cutting move

Manchester United is set to make up to 250 staff redundant in a bid to cut costs, it is being reported.

Following on from Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his company INEOS’s completed purchase of a 27.7% stake in the Premier League club for a whopping £1.25 billion back in February, and his taking charge of football operations alongside it as part of the agreement, the Manchester-born billionaire has been reviewing the current running of the club ever since.

Most notably, Ratcliffe commissioned a cost review ahead of the 2024/25 football season, as his team not only moved to shake things up on the pitch, but also behind the scenes at Manchester United as a whole.

And now, it’s being widely reported by reputable sources such as Sky Sports News, BBC Sport, The Athletic, and more, that interim Chief Executive, Jean-Claude Blanc, informed staff yesterday lunchtime (3 July) that the club intends to make a wave of redundancies.

Sources at Old Trafford have indicated that the club will now follow a formal process to propose such redundancies.

Believed to be a decision that has not been taken lightly, the club will begin to consult with staff across all departments and levels – with the exception of the Manchester United Foundation, according to Sky News.

According to sources, the decision to propose redundancies was finally reached upon following several other alternatives being considered beforehand, but these would apparently have only had a short-term impact, and were therefore deemed unsuitable, given that the long-term goal is to return United back to success in the future.

The proposed redundancies also align with the Premier League’s new financial regulations.

And, as United’s costs have risen year-on-year, it’s now also understood that the size and shape of the club “structurally” does not reflect the its current performance.

Read more:

• Manchester United issues statement after Sir Jim Ratcliffe gives hundreds of staff resignation offers
• Erik ten Hag is staying on as Manchester United manager
• Manchester United confirms appointment of Dan Ashworth as new sporting director

Because of this, club sources believe United now has more people than needed, and so, a reduction in employee headcount and costs is required.

Featured Image – Manchester United (via X | Michael Regan / Getty)