Despite Manchester United on-field struggles, its off-field growth remains robust. Despite the upcoming FA Cup final, Erik ten Hag’s team might face a season without European football. The recent 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace intensified pressure on the Dutch boss as the club sits eighth in the standings.
Former United vice-chairman Ed Woodward’s statement that playing performance didn’t significantly affect the club’s commercial operations garnered widespread disapproval.
United has demonstrated that its playing performance hasn’t hindered its growth in club value and revenue. INEOS founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment of £1.25bn for a 27.7% stake earlier this year underscores the club’s appeal as an investment opportunity.
The 2024 Sportico ranking of the most valuable soccer teams places Manchester United at the top, valued at $6.2bn (£5bn). Real Madrid follows in second ($6.06bn), with Barcelona in third ($5.28bn), Liverpool in fourth ($5.11bn), and Bayern Munich in fifth ($4.8bn). Despite Manchester City’s high revenues and numerous titles, its valuation of $4.75bn (£3.8bn) ranks it sixth on the list.
Manchester United could become a commanding brand in the world of football
United maintained its top position in Sportico’s 2023 valuations, with a figure of $5.95bn (£4.77bn). This marks a £230m increase in the club’s value over the past year. In contrast, despite Chelsea’s efforts under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, who bought the club for £2.5bn in May 2023, its Sportico valuation remained unchanged at $3.47bn (£2.78bn), £280m more than the purchase price. With United’s valuation at £5bn, Ratcliffe’s investment of £1.25bn for 27.7% of the club appears to be a great move, with his stake now worth £1.38bn based on the £5bn valuation.
If United can synchronize competitive success with financial prosperity once again, they have a clear trajectory to becoming the most dominant brand in football, possibly across all of world sport.
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