Manchester United has begun informing staff members that they are at risk of redundancy, a move that coincides with the club’s pre-season tour of the United States. This decision is part of a broader cost-cutting review initiated by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, aimed at addressing inefficiencies and reducing the club’s overall expenses. Individual meetings were held with affected employees last week, with some staff being withdrawn from the pre-season tour as a result.
The United squad, which departed for Los Angeles on Wednesday, includes around 125 club employees. This is a noticeable reduction from the 200-strong group that traveled to the States nine years ago under then-manager Louis van Gaal. The decision to scale back the number of traveling staff highlights the club’s commitment to streamlining operations and cutting costs wherever possible.
According to United’s recent accounts, the club employs 1,112 staff members, the highest count in the Premier League. This figure has increased by 129 over the past two years, a growth that the review found was not justified by performance metrics. As a result, approximately 250 employees are expected to lose their jobs in the coming weeks as the club accelerates the redundancy process.
The cost-cutting measures are seen as necessary to comply with new financial regulations and to manage rising operational costs. Manchester United’s leadership has emphasized the need for “significant transformation” to remain competitive both on and off the pitch. While the club declined to comment publicly on the redundancies, the move signals a strategic shift aimed at ensuring long-term financial stability.
