Manchester United’s wage bill was about half that of their Women’s Super League rivals Arsenal’s last season, their latest financial accounts have revealed, highlighting the stark contrast in spending at some of England’s biggest clubs as they prepare for a decisive night of European action.
United, who finished third in the WSL last season, four points behind second-placed Arsenal, face Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday, while Arsenal travel to Chelsea, after they qualified for the competition with hugely different budgets.
The United players and staff earned £4.88m, up from £4.2m in 2023-24, and the club’s total wage bill including social security and pensions costs was £5.88m, up from £5m. Arsenal, the only other club among the WSL’s big four to have published their accounts, paid their players and staff £9.9m and their wage bill, including social security and pensions costs, reached £11.3m. United’s wage bill was far closer to that of fifth-placed Brighton, whose total was £5m.
United’s matchday revenue fell sharply, from £1.87m in 2023-24 to £1.22m. Broadcasting revenue was similarly down by roughly a third and there was a drop in commercial revenue, from £5m down to £3.44m, but total revenue rose by 16% to £10.74m, thanks largely to a big increase in what the accounts labelled “services recharged to other group undertakings”. United have been contacted by the Guardian for a fuller explanation.
It was also revealed that the club spent £548,000 on transfers, while bringing in £167,000 from player sales. United recorded a profit before tax of £510,000.
The resources available to Marc Skinner will be put into sharp focus as his injury-hit squad try to overturn a 3-2 deficit at Bayern, the Frauen Bundesliga leaders , who were in impressive form at Old Trafford last Wednesday. The Bayern coach, José Barcala, said on Tuesday that he anticipated a “completely different” second leg, and warned: “We expect a very aggressive and well-organised opponent.”
Speaking in his pre-match press conference at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday evening, Skinner said that if his team were to progress to the semi-finals it would rank as highly as their FA Cup triumph at Wembley in 2024. “It’s the last match of the [fixture] block for us, so it is ‘empty the tank’ time, it is ‘give absolutely everything’ and I think you’re going to see that tomorrow night,” he said.
“We know what we have to do. We have to come here and silence a fantastic arena with brilliant fans, and we have to go and create history. Everybody is geed up and ready to go and do that. Just because of the moment the players are in, how hard they’re working, it [winning] would rank right up there with the FA Cup win.”
Skinner also confirmed his team will remain without the striker Elisabeth Terland, who has a knock, which will be a blow to their chances, and their squad remains unchanged from the defeat against Manchester City on Saturday. Barcelona almost certainly lie in wait for the tie’s victors, having won their first leg against Real Madrid 6-2.
In the opposite half of the draw, Arsenal hold a 3-1 advantage over Chelsea but will be mindful of their opponents’ ability to strike back at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea, seeking a first European title, are boosted by the return of Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, who missed their thrilling 4-3 victory against Aston Villa on Sunday, but the defender Millie Bright and the striker Aggie-Beever-Jones remain out.
Arsenal will assess Leah Williamson but the England captain trained on Tuesday and Renée Slegers seemed confident Williamson will be available. “It was a very tight game in the first leg and we know it’s going to be a battle, so we have to be on it,” Slegers said.
