Manchester United have informed several staff members at their Carrington training ground that they will be let go, as the club begins a second wave of redundancies since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival last year.
According to internal sources, the downsizing process has been quietly underway for weeks, potentially affecting up to 200 roles. While many staff were already made aware of their future, some—particularly those tied to the first team—weren’t told until after Wednesday’s Europa League final defeat to Tottenham to avoid any disruption to preparations.
Departments likely to face the brunt of the cuts include sports science, medical, and scouting. With the final now behind them, affected employees are being formally notified of their status.
Morale inside the club has reportedly plummeted, especially with the news arriving just days after United’s painful loss in Bilbao. Insiders insist the redundancy timeline was never adjusted, though the optics are difficult to ignore.
This is the second major culling of staff at United in just over a year. The first round last year saw around 250 employees depart, saving the club an estimated £8–10 million. At that time, United had roughly 1,100 employees. Chief executive Omar Berrada had already hinted earlier this year that another 150–200 job cuts were imminent.
Following the club’s failure to qualify for Europe next season—just the second time that’s happened since 1990—United are staring at a £100 million shortfall. Ratcliffe, who bought a minority stake in February 2024, has since initiated a number of cost-cutting measures. These have included scrapping ambassador roles held by club legends like Sir Alex Ferguson, closing staff canteens, and instead offering… free fruit.
Meanwhile, despite the club’s financial woes, Ratcliffe and co-owner Avram Glazer were seen in Bilbao for the final, reportedly with cars driven ahead for their personal use. And yes, the club went ahead with a post-match barbecue for players and their families at Carrington, even amid growing staff anxiety.
Opinion from Sportbet365:
It’s a bitter pill for United staff to swallow—especially after such a disheartening end to the season. While the club’s need to streamline its finances is understandable, the human cost of this transition is hard to ignore. If Ratcliffe’s era is to usher in a new chapter, it needs more than balance sheets—it needs a beating heart.
