The cost of Manchester United’s key problems in recent seasons has been highlighted.
Manchester United’s injury costs over the past five seasons have amounted to a staggering £155m, making them the highest in the Premier League. Further research shows that United had either the highest or second highest costs between the 2020/21 and 2024/25 seasons.
The data is part of the fifth edition of insurance brokerage group Howden’s European Men’s Soccer Injury Index. The report not only focuses on last season, when United had their worst season in 50 years, but also looks back over the past five years. During this time, United, along with Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, suffered above-average injury costs.
United’s £155m was followed by Chelsea’s £137m and Manchester City’s £104m. Injury costs are determined by the player’s daily wage during the injury period. Therefore, the absence of a high-paid key player is more costly than using several team players at lower wages.
United’s most expensive season during this period was the 2023/24 season, which cost them £45.28m. The study found the club performed well last season, with injury costs of just under £28m.
United’s lowest injury cost, at just £14.5m, came in the 2020/21 season, when they finished second in the Premier League under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Over the last five years, United have suffered a total of 399 injuries, averaging close to 80 a season.
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Chelsea had 359 injuries, while Newcastle also had 355. Despite their struggles on the field, United’s injury numbers last season actually fell to 68, the lowest number in that period.
The study, which also looked at top departments in Germany, Spain, Italy and France, found 22,596 injuries were recorded over five years, costing around £3bn. Premier League clubs accounted for 24% of injuries but 40% of costs, highlighting the economic disparity between England’s top flight and its European rivals.
Overall costs have increased, but the number of injuries has remained the same, and in some cases even decreased. However, the severity of injuries is increasing, especially among players under the age of 21.
This has to do with players’ increasingly demanding schedules. Dr Robin Thorpe, an expert on elite football performance and injury risk and a former Man United consultant, said: “The worrying signs are that the severity of injuries has increased by almost 30 per cent and that injured players are missing significantly more time.”
“This increase in severity is consistent with shorter recovery periods, increased fatigue, and increased density and sequence of elite competition by selected teams.
“The vulnerability of young players is particularly evident. Across the top leagues, and in particular the Premier League, players under 21 are the ones who suffer the most serious injuries despite playing the least amount of minutes.”
“This may indicate a systemic problem in the player’s development process. In many cases, players may reach technical readiness for senior football before they have achieved the physical robustness necessary to withstand its demands.”
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