Man Utd's Massive Wage Bill Exposed: How They Stack Up Against Arsenal, Liverpool, and Man City
INEOS's financial restructuring at Manchester United has focused on staff reductions and eliminating certain benefits, including complimentary dining at Carrington, for remaining employees.
At last, it seems the club's minority stakeholders are implementing a more substantial and meaningful strategy to address their staggering £1.3 billion ($1.75 billion) debt through wage bill reduction.
United stand as not only Europe's biggest net spenders across the last five years, but have also agreed to questionable contracts that Sir Jim Ratcliffe would claim left them with little choice.
Frequent changes in management at Old Trafford have resulted in substantial financial commitments to various "rebuilding efforts," with Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim each receiving considerable funds to construct their respective United squads according to their vision.
Carrick, or whoever succeeds Amorim permanently, will also receive that opportunity. Nevertheless, INEOS must learn from past errors and implement a much more sustainable salary structure that helps reduce their persistent debt.
Here's how United's salary expenditure stacks up against their biggest Premier League competitors.
Man Utd's Wage Bill Compared to Premier League's Biggest Clubs
Man Utd's Salary Expenditure Versus Premier League's Top Clubs
Premier League Position | Team | Salary Expenditure |
|---|---|---|
1. | Liverpool | $574 million |
2. | Man City | $547 million |
3. | Arsenal | $453 million |
4. | Man Utd | $420 million |
Based on reports from The Times, Manchester United's salary expenditure, totaling approximately $420 million (£313 million), ranks fourth-highest in the Premier League.
The Red Devils feature two of the league's top-five highest-earning players in Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, though the latter, who has enjoyed a strong campaign, will depart the club this summer, further reducing their salary obligations. The Brazilian midfielder has been earning a base weekly salary believed to be around $471,000 per week.
Removing that contract should help alleviate United's existing financial pressures.
However, their expenditure pales in comparison to the soon-to-be former champions, who are allocating an enormous $574 million on player wages. Liverpool also conducted a remarkable transfer window last summer, while generating over $942 million in annual revenue for the 2025 financial year.
The Reds surpass Manchester City in the salary expenditure rankings, with the Citizens, who reportedly pay Erling Haaland $706,000 weekly, spending $547 million on player wages.
United also sit just behind Arsenal in this comparison. The Gunners have invested nearly $942 million on transfers under Mikel Arteta, and have been compelled to raise their salary expenditure as the Spaniard's vision has developed through numerous well-deserved contract renewals.
Arsenal's overall expenditure reaches $453 million, approximately $33 million higher than United's figure.