Premier League
Manchester United posts sixth straight annual loss, forecasts revenue dip
Manchester United (MANU.N), opens new tab reported an annual net loss for the sixth consecutive year on Wednesday and forecast lower revenue for this fiscal year, highlighting the football club’s ongoing financial struggles.
The Premier League side posted a 33 million-pound ($45 million) loss for the year ended June 30, an improvement on the previous year’s 113.2 million-pound deficit.
The narrower full-year loss reflects significant cost-cutting measures aimed at shoring up finances after several years of underperformance both on and off the field.
The club said it expects revenue of between 640 million pounds and 660 million pounds for its fiscal 2026, compared with 666.5 million pounds reported for the year ended June 30.
Manchester United’s New York-listed shares were down 3.8% at $15.79 in premarket trading.
The Premier League has in recent years tightened club spending regulations under its Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR), designed to level the playing field and curb excessive spending by wealthy owners.
Manchester United has racked up losses of about 175 million pounds since fiscal 2023.
The PSR caps losses at 105 million pounds over a three-year period, though investments in infrastructure, academies, charity and women’s soccer are permitted as deductions.
The club said it was in compliance with the PSR and UEFA’s Financial Fair Play Regulations.
Chart shows Manchester United extends losing streak to six years with latest financial results.
Minority owner Jim Ratcliffe, who holds roughly 29% of the club and oversees football operations, has rolled out cost-saving measures, including staff reductions, higher ticket prices and the scrapping of free lunches at staff canteens.
However, the club’s absence from European competitions this season will dent broadcasting revenue, hurt cash flow and stretch its balance sheet, intensifying financial pressure and fuelling criticism from supporters.
On the pitch, United’s inconsistent start to the new Premier League campaign – one win, one draw, and two losses – has left fans frustrated despite a summer outlay of about 230 million pounds on new attacking players.
“As we start to feel the benefits of our cost reduction programme, there is significant potential for improved financial performance, which will, in turn, support our overriding priority: success on the pitch,” CEO Omar Berrada said in a statement.
Reuters
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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim was defiant in the face of growing criticism after his side were dismantled 3-0 by crosstown rivals Manchester City in Sunday’s Premier League derby at the Etihad Stadium.
United’s third loss in five matches across all competitions left them languishing 14th in the Premier League.
Amorim has just eight league wins since he joined United last November, and after the match the Portuguese was asked whether he should rethink his tactical setup. Perhaps it is simply too easy to play against.
His response was candid, if not combative.
“Guys, I understand that and I accept, so it’s not a record that you should have in Manchester United,” he told reporters. “There are a lot of things that you have no idea what happened during these months, but I accept that.
“But I’m not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you’ll have to change the men. And we will talk about that every game that we lose. So I play my way, and I’m going to play my way until I want to change.”
City were led by a clinical Erling Haaland, who struck twice, and a resurgent Phil Foden, who scored in his first start of the season.
United had their moments. Bryan Mbeumo forced a world-class save from City’s new goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the second half. But United’s inability to convert chances and their defensive frailties were glaring.
City fans taunted Amorim with chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning.”
Having made clear he would not abandon his footballing philosophy, Amorim was asked what message that sends supporters.
“My message is that I’m going to give everything. I will do everything, always thinking about what is best for the club. That was always the same message,” he said.
“And then it’s not my decision the rest. I really want to win games, so I’m suffering more than them.”
With Chelsea up next at Old Trafford on Saturday and no European football to distract from domestic woes, Amorim’s resolve will be tested again — and soon.
-Reuters
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Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina has been sidelined with a hamstring injury he picked up while on international duty for Nigeria, the Premier League club said on Friday.
Forest did not say for how long the 28-year-old would be out, after sustaining the injury during Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier, but the BBC reported he would be missing for three months.
“Everyone at the club sends their best wishes to Ola and wishes him a speedy recovery,” Forest said in a statement.
Former Chelsea player Aina made 35 league appearances for Forest last season.
Forest visit Arsenal on Saturday.
-Reuters
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Chelsea were hit with 74 charges by the Football Association on Thursday after the London club were accused of breaching regulations covering football agents, intermediaries and third-party investment in players spanning more than a decade.
The FA did not elaborate on the charges but Chelsea said the matters were ‘self-reported’ by the club after the change in ownership in May 2022.
“The conduct that is the subject of the charges ranges from 2009 to 2022 and primarily relates to events which occurred between the 2010-11 to 2015-16 playing seasons,” the FA said in a statement.
At the time, the London club was owned by Roman Abramovich, but the Russian billionaire put Chelsea up for sale in 2022 following sanctions after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich, who bought the club in 2003, completed the sale to an investment group led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
“During a thorough due diligence process prior to completion of the purchase, the ownership group became aware of potentially incomplete financial reporting concerning historical transactions and other potential breaches of FA rules,” Chelsea said in a statement.
“Immediately upon the completion of the purchase, the club self-reported these matters to all relevant regulators, including the FA.
“The club has demonstrated unprecedented transparency during this process, including by giving comprehensive access to the club’s files and historical data.
“We will continue working collaboratively with the FA to conclude this matter as swiftly as possible.”
The FA said Chelsea have until September 19 to respond to the charge.
A source at the club told Reuters they had opened their books to the FA so England’s soccer governing body can make educated judgements on the historical payments.
The source could not reveal the nature of the charges or the irregular payments as it is an ongoing legal matter but confirmed they were related to the men’s team.
Chelsea are also hoping the FA takes their transparency into account if the alleged breaches result in sanctions which could range from fines, points deductions or even transfer bans.
PREVIOUS PUNISHMENTS
FIFA had handed Chelsea a transfer ban in 2019 after they were found guilty of breaching rules regarding 29 overseas players under the age of 18.
In July 2023, European soccer body UEFA had reached a settlement with Chelsea over the submission of incomplete financial information, related to “historical transactions” between 2012-2019.
At the time, the owners said they had proactively reported instances of potentially incomplete financial reporting to UEFA.
Two weeks later, the Premier League said it was investigating potential financial rule breaches at Chelsea under Abramovich’s ownership.
The Times reported that the inquiry encompasses multi-million-pound payments to undisclosed offshore entities, with connections to football intermediaries.
In July this year, Chelsea were also fined 31 million euros ($36.31 million) by UEFA for breaches of its financial rules by not complying with the football earnings rule and breaching the squad cost rule.
Chelsea had agreed to a four-year settlement with UEFA to avoid the risk of being hit with a further 60 million euros if they do not get their finances in order.
-Reuters
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