Manchester United Wages Revealed: Every Player’s Salary in 2025/26 Season

Manchester United’s wage bill for the first-team squad stands at £150.8 million for the season (excluding bonuses). That works out at an average of approximately £96,900 per week per player.

This is a substantial outlay, reflecting United’s global brand, their ambition to attract and retain top-level talent, and the costs associated with sustaining a squad capable of competing domestically and in Europe. Because this figure excludes bonuses, commercial incentives and potential earnings from performances, the true cost could actually be higher.

The financial view here is as significant as what happens on the pitch.

A club of United’s size cannot simply hope for success; it must invest. Wages are one of the most visible indicators of how a club values its players, how it plans for the future, and how it responds to the demands of the modern game.

Top-Tier Wages

At the very top end of United’s payroll are players whose importance is clear, whose contracts reflect their roles, and whose earning power signals both past achievement and expected future contribution.

Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro share the top wage bracket, both earning £300,000 per week (equivalent to roughly £15.6 million per year).

• Bruno (aged 31) remains the creative engine of the midfield, a player the club relies on to deliver goals, assists and leadership. His contract through 2027 secures that service.
• Casemiro (aged 33) brings defensive grit, experience and tactical intelligence. His contract runs until 2026. Even at his age, his pedigree justifies a premium wage.

Mason Mount, signed at age 26 on a contract through 2028, earns £200,000 per week. That indicates the club’s belief in his contribution to attack and support play, pressing and forward momentum.

Then there’s Matthijs de Ligt, centre-back, 26 years old, contracted through 2029, on £195,000 per week. This places him as United’s most heavily paid defender and signals a long-term investment in the defensive spine.
Harry Maguire earns £190,000 per week (contract until 2026).

His salary represents both his former valuation and the challenge clubs face when looking after long-term, high-value contracts, even when form fluctuates.

These top brackets tell us two things: one, United are willing to pay large sums for players they considers key to their strategy; and two, these wages are tied to seniority, experience, and expected levels of performance. They also create a wage structure that needs to be managed carefully because high incomes carry risk (injury, loss of form, changing tactical roles) that must be matched by value delivered.

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Significant Arrivals & Strategic Investments

United’s salary structure shows a clear emphasis on major signings who are entering or approaching their prime, and players who fill important tactical roles.

• Benjamin Sesko, age 22, signed recently on a long contract to 2030, earning £160,000 per week. This is a significant commitment for a young striker, pointing to United’s belief in his long-term potential as a central forward.
• At £150,000 per week, three players sit in this tier: Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Matheus Cunha (Brazil) and Luke Shaw (England).
  • Mbeumo and Cunha represent the attacking injection of pace and versatility, with long deals designed for consistency and value over time.
  • Luke Shaw, at age 30 and contract until 2027, represents the category of trusted senior player in a key position (left-back) being rewarded for consistency and reliability.
• Further down, in the £120,000 weekly range, are players such as Lisandro Martínez (Argentina), Manuel Ugarte (Uruguay), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco), and Amad Diallo (Côte d’Ivoire, age 23, contract through 2030). This tier is populated by international-level talent filling key roles—whether in defence, midfield or attack- who offer both immediate utility and future upside.

In effect, this mid-range bracket is where United is investing heavily: players who are not just role players, but who are expected to be significant contributors, either now or in the immediate future. The length of many contracts emphasises long-term planning rather than short-term fixes.

Youth, Development and Tiered Wages

United also shows a calculated approach to integrating younger players, academy products and those stepping up from youth levels. This is important for wage-bill management, risk mitigation and future upside.

• Leny Yoro (France, age 19) is reportedly on a contract through 2029, earning £115,000 per week. For a teenager, that is a high figure, signalling how the competition for elite young defensive talent is fierce and United have moved to secure him early.
• Joshua Zirkzee (Netherlands, age 24) earns about £96,000 per week on a contract to 2029, offering depth in attack and versatility at a sensible wage level given his profile.
• Then come players like Diogo Dalot (Portugal, full-back, £80,000 per week, contract to 2028) — a rotational starter, offering good value for money.
• Further down the scale are the true academy graduates or very young players: Kobbie Mainoo, age 20, on £25,000 per week (contract to 2027) — modest compared to senior peers, reflecting his recent promotion to the first team and his potential rather than current contribution.
• At the bottom end are wages such as £15,000 a week for players like Ayden Heaven and Harry Amass, or £10,000 a week for Ethan Wheatley and Diego León. These figures provide meaningful progression from youth football wages, allow retention of talent, and maintain financial risk at acceptable levels.

This tiered structure allows United to combine experience and youth, to reward performance and potential, and to manage long-term cost escalation. It also keeps a pipeline of talent progressing toward higher payments as their contribution and value grow.

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Contract Expiry, Planning & Financial Implications

One of the more revealing aspects when you look at the wage list is the expiry of contracts and the strategic implications for United.

A number of the high-wage contracts expire in 2026: Casemiro, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia and others. These expirations create flexibility: from United’s perspective, they present opportunities to renegotiate, restructure or move on players and free up wage-bill space for new investment. For instance:

• Casemiro, by 2026, will be 34. The club might decide to renew at a lower wage or allow departure.
• Maguire’s expiry in 2026 could similarly free up a large portion of the wage bill.
• Malacia, under contract to 2026 at £75,000 per week, is another spot the club might evaluate.

On the flip side, many of United’s newer signings are secured on long-term deals (to 2029, 2030). This shows a different approach: locking down prime-age players (or those with potential) for the long haul reduces the need for frequent renegotiation, protects transfer investment and provides wage-bill predictability.

From a cost-management perspective, this is critical.

The top of the Premier League has become unsustainable in some cases if wages escalate unchecked. United’s leaders know this. The wage structure shows both ambition and caution: big bets on experienced stars, major investments in younger talent, and a structure for integrating upcoming players at lower wages.

Manchester United’s 2025/26 Squad Wages

(Note: These figures exclude bonuses, so actual earnings may be materially higher.)

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Wage Bill Compared to Peers

United’s wage bill places them among the highest spenders in the Premier League. According to PlanetFootball, Manchester United were estimated to spend around £171.4 million in salaries for the 2024-25 season.
SPORTbible also indicated a weekly payroll of ~£3.3 million, or ~£171.4 million annually.

In the modern era, many clubs face pressure to control wage escalation.

For United, striking a balance between ambition and sustainability is key. The club’s wage spending is not just about paying the stars; it is integral to recruitment strategy, squad depth, and competition readiness.

Key Questions for United’s Future

Several implications arise from this wage listing, and questions that the club must face if the investment is to pay off.

Performance vs Cost: High wages create expectation. United’s wages indicate that this squad is expected to deliver. The challenge is converting investment into consistent results. If pay levels are high but performance lags, the scrutiny intensifies.

Renewals and Succession: With some major contracts set to expire in 2026, United must plan accordingly. Do they renew senior players at similar wages? Do they let them go and reinvest the freed funds? Managing wage inflation and the timing of renewals is as important as the initial signing.

Wage Structure vs Squad Depth: The spread from £300k/week down to £5k/week shows the gap between top stars and youth. Ensuring that younger players are rewarded appropriately as they step up will be key to maintaining morale and talent retention.

Risk Management: Wage commitments are long-term. Injuries, loss of form or tactical shifts can turn high wages into liabilities. United’s contract strategy (locking players in until 2029 or 2030) helps, but it also locks in responsibility.

Return on Investment: From a financial standpoint, United needs the performances, European qualification, commercial success and enhanced brand value aligned with the wage outlay. The wage bill is only sustainable if the club’s overall revenues, prize money and brand growth move forward.

All wages are verified from Salaryleaks as of October 21, 2025

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