Manchester United’s financial results reveal net debt hit £495m at end of 2021

Manchester United’s net debt stood at £494.8m on 31 December 2021, up from £455.5m at the end of the previous year, according to the club’s latest accounts.

The report, published on Tuesday, shows that a sizeable proportion of the debt increase derived from a fall in broadcasting revenues – £22.3m (20.5%) less was earned in the last quarter than in the equivalent period of 2020-21 – because four fewer games were played. There was also a £2.6m decrease in sponsorship money after the end of the club’s training kit contract, though there was revenue growth of 7.3%.

The scale of the debt is regularly raised by fans opposed to the owners, the Glazer family, who undertook a debt-loading takeover in 2005.

Speaking to the club’s Fans’ Forum, the football director, John Murtough, claimed United had the “right structures” for the men’s and women’s teams to win trophies. Murtough’s comments come despite the men’s team being in flux with an interim manager in Ralf Rangnick and a 19-point gap to the Premier League leaders, Manchester City. United last won the league nine years ago.

“Overall, while there is potential for further improvement and progress, we do feel that we now have the right structures in place across our men’s, women’s and academy teams to support long-term success and we will continue working relentlessly and investing to achieve that,” Murtough said. “We know that consistency is key as we strive for a top-four finish this season. I want to reiterate however that this is not the ultimate objective for Manchester United, and everyone at the club is focused on challenging for the top trophies.

“We are now conducting a thorough process for the appointment of a new permanent manager who will take charge this summer,