(Credit: Imago/Getty Images)

James Murray

Thu 19 March 2026 16:19, UK

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Manchester United cut the annual salary of their highest-paid director for a third year in a row last season.

The Premier League side have posted their full accounts for 2024-25 on Companies House, providing new details about how their finances break down. 

The documents showed Man United’s highest-paid director, who remains unknown, saw their salary fall from £1.54million in 2023-24 to £1.53m last season.

While that change is relatively small, finance expert Kieran Maguire has revealed the figure stood at £2.56m in 2022-23 and was as high as £4.15m in 2017-18, with the latter understood to have been paid to former executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is aiming to bring down Man United’s costs, having taken over the footballing operations at Old Trafford in February 2024.

How Man United are reducing their wage bill

Man United missed out on European football last season after finishing 15th in the Premier League table, potentially playing a part in their highest-paid director receiving a pay cut.

Meanwhile, the Manchester giants finished second under Jose Mourinho in 2017-18, leading to Woodward banking a hefty annual salary.

There has been a conscious effort to bring down the overall wage bill at Old Trafford over the past couple of years.

Companies House documents show Man United’s wages dropped from £365m in 2023-24 to £313m last season, with Liverpool paying the highest total in the Premier League at £428m after being crowned champions.

Ratcliffe is understood to be keen on making further cuts, but results on the pitch will dictate whether that is a possibility.

Man United’s wage bill could rise by £30m if they qualify for the Champions League this season due to clauses in their players’ contracts.

How much revenue do Man United generate?

In terms of the financial picture at Old Trafford, Man United have lost ground on some of their Premier League rivals.

The 20-time English champions posted a club-record revenue last season after their turnover increased from £662m in 2023-24 to £667m.

However, Liverpool’s £703m was the highest in the Premier League, while Manchester City’s total stood at £694 and Arsenal generated £691m.

While Man United’s numbers are expected to remain broadly static this season, qualifying for the Champions League would provide them with a boost for 2026-27.

Michael Carrick’s side sit third in the Premier League table heading into their clash against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Friday (20 March).