MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United has announced plans to eliminate an additional 200 jobs as part of a broader strategy to cut costs following five consecutive years of financial losses. This announcement was made public on Monday by the club.
Previously, the club had already reduced approximately 250 positions in a first round of job cuts last year, following British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of a 25% stake in the team for $1.3 billion, allowing him control over soccer operations.
As part of a “transformation plan,” the club has indicated that it expects about 150 to 200 jobs may be lost, contingent upon discussions with staff members. United’s chief executive, Omar Berrada, stated, “We have a responsibility to position Manchester United in the best possible way to achieve victory across our men’s, women’s, and academy teams.” He added that a comprehensive set of initiatives would be implemented to rejuvenate the club.
Berrada expressed regret over the impact of these potential job losses, explaining, “Unfortunately, this means announcing further potential redundancies, and we deeply regret the effect on those affected colleagues. Nonetheless, these tough decisions are essential for restoring the club’s financial stability.”
The primary aim of United is to return to profitability after five years of losses that began in 2019. Berrada emphasized, “This cannot continue. Our top two priorities as a football club are to ensure success on the field for our supporters and to enhance our facilities. Without financial stability, we cannot invest in these goals.”
He further noted, “By the end of this restructuring, we will have a more streamlined, agile, and financially viable club, while continuing to deliver exceptional service to our valued commercial partners. This will enable us to strengthen our capabilities for investing in sporting success and to enhance facilities for our fans, all while remaining aligned with UEFA and Premier League regulations.”
In conjunction with the job cuts, Manchester United has also increased the price of its cheapest tickets, from £40 ($49) to £66 ($81) during the season.
On the pitch, Manchester United, the club with a record 20 English championships, is experiencing one of its most challenging seasons in recent memory. Currently, the team sits at 15th place in the 20-team Premier League table, having won only eight and lost 12 of its first 26 matches.
