Manchester United’s form dramatically improved last season after Michael Carrick returned to coach the team in January. That led to a third-place finish in the Premier League, Champions League qualification, and more ‘wiggle room’ in the transfer window to sign new players.
The 2026/27 campaign is here, and the summer transfer window has shut – with multiple winners and losers as far as Manchester United are concerned.
United’s top priority was to revamp the midfield. They did that, despite spending cautiously and walking away from deals they believed represented bad value.
Jason Wilcox’s second summer transfer window as director of football included four arrivals (one being a goalkeeper to play second fiddle to Senne Lammens), with £171m invested. That represents a drop of £70.22m from the previous year.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Compared to their Premier League rivals, United spent nowhere near the same money. City led the way, spending £454.2m, including a £125m deadline-day move for Enzo Fernández.
Tottenham splashed £386.5m as they attempt to return to the Champions League, while Liverpool spent the majority of their £247.5m on Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola.
Meanwhile, United have been a lot more cautious with their spending. It makes you wonder how difficult this summer could have been for the Reds had we not finished third to secure a place in the Champions League.
Manchester United incomings
This season marks United’s return to Europe’s most prestigious tournament in three years, so that means sponsorship deals with companies like Adidas won’t be hit with the penalties we’ve seen after missing out on qualification in consecutive seasons.
United’s upturn under Carrick helped save approximately £30m in commercial revenue before accounting for matchday revenue.
Carrick’s run as interim head coach unlocked UEFA’s league prize pool in the Champions League, but he needs to back up those results to get another chance to bolster the squad next year.
Can you imagine how much United would have struggled in this summer’s market without the Champions League? Me neither. Perhaps securing Champions League football in consecutive years would be rewarded with a spending spree next year?
Here is a list of the years United spent excessively in the summer market.
United’s spending this summer doesn’t even make the top five, which may come as a surprise.
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