Manchester United remain one of the world’s most valuable football clubs, ranked second only to Real Madrid in Forbes’ latest list of the most valuable teams in global football.
Despite back-to-back disappointing seasons—including an eighth-place finish in 2023-24 and a 15th-place finish in 2024-25—United’s brand power has kept them at the top of the financial table.
Manchester United’s Valuation and Financial Performance
Forbes values Manchester United at $6.6 billion (£4.9 billion), with revenues of $834 million (£620 million) for the 2023-24 season. This represents a 1% increase in value despite struggles on the pitch and missing out on Champions League football.
| Club | Value ($bn) | Revenue ($m) |
|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 6.75 | 1,129 |
| Manchester United | 6.60 | 834 |
| Barcelona | 6.55 | 1,001 |
| Liverpool | 5.40 | 773 |
| Manchester City | 5.30 | 901 |
Why Manchester United’s Value Remains High
“Despite on-pitch struggles, debts of £1bn and financial losses, United’s brand power and global fanbase continue to drive their value,” said Forbes analysts.
Key factors keeping United among the elite:
- Global fanbase built over decades of dominance
- Strong commercial partnerships and global reach
- Brand resilience despite poor results and high debts
- Plans for a £2bn Old Trafford redevelopment project
United’s Challenges: Debt, Losses, and Staff Cuts
- £1bn in debt and losses of £113.2m in 2023-24
- Cost-cutting measures under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, including 250 job losses last summer and a further 200 redundancies expected
- No European football for 2025-26, after losing the Europa League final and finishing 15th in the Premier League
What’s Next for Manchester United?
United’s financial might remains strong, but the pressure is mounting to translate off-pitch dominance into on-pitch success. With no European football next season, the focus will shift to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s leadership, cost-cutting measures, and whether Ruben Amorim can turn results around.
Is Manchester United’s global brand enough to keep them at the top despite poor results? Share your thoughts below and tag a fellow fan to join the debate!
1 Comment (last comment by Adem)
First read message
By Adem 31 May 2025 15:50
How on earth? Forbes people are United fans - they've been really bad for years and shouldn't make the list.
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