Manchester United slide to eighth in Money League after nightmare season
Manchester United have suffered a historic financial setback after falling to eighth in the Deloitte Football Money League, dropping below Liverpool and Arsenal for the first time in the report’s history following a disastrous 2024–25 campaign.
The figures underline the scale of United’s decline, with a 15th place Premier League finish and Europa League final defeat combining to deliver the club’s worst season of the modern era and a damaging hit to revenue status.
Liverpool and Arsenal overtake United as England’s hierarchy shifts
United’s slide marks a major moment in English football’s financial landscape. Once the dominant force in Deloitte’s rankings, the club now sits outside the top five entirely, overtaken by domestic rivals who have paired commercial growth with stronger on pitch results.
Despite posting a record turnover of £666.5 million for the 2024–25 season, United were unable to keep pace with competitors at home and abroad. The drop is particularly stark given the club topped the Money League on 10 occasions, most recently in 2017.
Why this moment matters now
The report is a clear reflection of long term sporting stagnation under the Glazer family, compounded by instability during Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s first year overseeing football operations. Commercial strength alone is no longer enough to offset weak league finishes and European absence.
United’s failure to qualify for the Champions League for successive seasons has proved especially costly, allowing rivals to pull away through UEFA prize money, broadcast income, and global exposure.
How the damage was done
The 2024–25 season was the decisive turning point. United finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest ever position, and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham, missing out on both silverware and Champions League qualification.
Those results directly reduced merit payments and European revenue, accelerating the club’s fall down the Money League standings.
Key financial incidents
Sir Jim Ratcliffe responded by introducing a zero based budgeting approach, triggering staff redundancies and aggressive cost controls aimed at stabilising finances. However, the measures have yet to deliver footballing improvement.
The recent dismissal of head coach Ruben Amorim has only added to the uncertainty, with the team again outside the top four and facing another season without elite European football.
Rivals surge ahead
While United slipped back, Liverpool surged to fifth overall with a record turnover of £702.3 million, becoming England’s highest ranked club. Manchester City dropped to sixth with £694.1 million, while Arsenal remained seventh on £690.2 million.
For the first time in nearly 30 years of Deloitte reporting, no Premier League club finished inside the global top four, highlighting a broader shift in football’s financial balance.
European elite set the pace
Real Madrid retained top spot for a third straight year and a record 15th time with revenues of £975.2 million. Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain followed, benefiting from Champions League expansion and the new Club World Cup format.
These competitions have widened the gap between Europe’s elite and clubs chasing from behind, leaving United increasingly distant from the summit.
What comes next for United
United now face a critical period. Without a swift return to the Champions League, their position in the Money League is likely to come under further threat next year.
Once the benchmark of football’s financial power, the club is now playing catch up on and off the pitch, with the road back to the top looking longer and more uncertain than ever.