Manchester United’s struggles in the transfer market have long been a talking point since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, and the latest report from CIES Football Observatory paints a grim picture.
According to the analysis, the Red Devils rank at the very bottom when it comes to smart spending in football transfers since January 2021.
Their record over nearly five years highlights a huge problem with overspending and poor return on investment.
A £424 Million Hole in the Budget
The study shows Manchester United with a negative total balance of £424million on professional player transfers during this period.
Delving deeper, their overall value balance stands at minus £359million, meaning the club has consistently spent far more than it has gained.
Big-money signings such as Jadon Sancho (£73m), Antony (£86m), and Andre Onana (£47.2m) have failed to deliver value, contributing heavily to this deficit.
Other Clubs Also Struggle, but None Like United
United’s woes far outstrip the next club on the list: Saudi side Al-Hilal, with a minus-£249million value balance, their biggest disappointment being Neymar.
The Brazilian star, brought in from PSG for £77.6m plus add-ons, lasted just 16 months before mutually terminating his contract after an ACL injury.
West Ham, ranked third-worst, have a minus-£179m balance, with striker signings like Gianluca Scamacca (£30.5m) and Niclas Fullkrug (£27m) failing to hit the mark.
Saudi clubs Al-Ahli (minus-£169m) and Al-Nassr (minus-£161m) round out the bottom five.
The Bright Spots: Clubs Getting It Right
While United and a handful of clubs have overspent and underperformed, some have made smart moves in the market.
Real Madrid tops the list with a positive value balance of £511million, thanks to shrewd signings like Jude Bellingham (£88.5m) and free transfers including Antonio Rudiger and Kylian Mbappe.
German side Eintracht Frankfurt follows with a plus-£336million balance.
Premier League teams also make the top five, with Aston Villa at plus-£234m and Brighton at plus-£223m.
PSG rounds out the list with plus-£220m, having brought in talents such as Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, and Nuno Mendes.
Top Five Best and Worst Clubs Since 2021
Best Clubs by Value Balance
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Real Madrid (+£511m)
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Eintracht Frankfurt (+£336m)
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Aston Villa (+£234m)
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Brighton (+£223m)
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Paris Saint-Germain (+£220m)
Worst Clubs by Value Balance
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Manchester United (-£359m)
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Al-Hilal (-£249m)
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West Ham (-£179m)
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Al-Ahli (-£169m)
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Al-Nassr (-£161m)
Looking Ahead for Manchester United
As United prepare for their upcoming Premier League fixtures, including a home clash against West Ham, fans and analysts alike will be watching to see if new signings or tactical adjustments can help reverse their fortunes in the transfer market.
After years of expensive flops, the pressure is on for the Red Devils to finally get recruitment right and match the efficiency of clubs like Real Madrid and Brighton.
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