Manchester United have spent huge sums of money on players since Sir Alex Ferguson retired (Image: GETTY)
have spent huge sums of money to sign a host of players since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. On top of the cheaper signings, the club have parted with a whopping £1.3billion to land 25 big-hitters for £30million or more. But 24 of those players have been underwhelming to say the least.
United have struggled on the pitch without Ferguson at the helm, with a series of managers failing to inspire the team to success.
And current boss to his career at Old Trafford after winning just four of his first 15 Premier League games in charge.
United spent £89m to snap up Paul Pogba from Juventus in 2016 after allowing him to leave for free four years earlier. The midfielder showed glimpses of his talents during a six-year spell at Old Trafford but failed to hit the heights expected of him before quitting the club for a second time in 2022.
Antony cost the club £80.75m when he moved to England from Ajax in 2022 on the advice of . He was never a top-end Premier League player and completed a loan switch to Real Betis last summer.
Harry Maguire was another £80m signing who failed to take the Red Devils to the next level. He did at least have a couple of decent seasons following his arrival in 2019, but quickly fell down the pecking order under Ten Hag.
Romelu Lukaku underwhelmed during his two seasons in Manchester following his £75m arrival in 2017, with £72.6m signing Jadon Sancho also failing to live up to his price tag before joining on loan. And has had plenty of time to prove his worth since his £72m move from Atalanta, but has been found wanting.
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Bruno Fernandes has arguably been Manchester United’s best signing of the last decade (Image: GETTY)
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In fact, the only £30m-plus signing who will end his United career with some credibility is , who moved to England from Sporting in 2020 in a £67.7m deal. The midfielder has been a creative genius in the final third, although his frustrations with his team-mates are often clear to see.
Casemiro, who was a £60m signing in 2022, had a decent first season but has been dire since then, while 2014 addition Angel Di Maria was well out of his depth after costing the club £59.7m.
Mason Mount (£55m) and Lisandro Martinez (£48.3m) have both struggled with injury issues, while the jury is still out on Leny Yoro (£52m), with the defender yet to turn 20.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£50m) came and went, with Fred (£47m) failing to provide the answers to the team’s midfield issues in 2018. Anthony Martial (£44.7m) failed to live up to expectations, while Andre Onana (£43.9m) has come under fierce criticism since putting pen to paper on his first United contract in 2023.
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Manuel Ugarte (£42.1m) has been unable to make enough of an impact over the last six months, while Nemanja Matic’s best days were behind him by the time he joined the Red Devils in a £40m deal in 2017.
(£38.5m) hasn’t been able to shore up the defence this season, with Joshua Zirkzee (£36.5m) currently struggling at the other end of the pitch. Juan Mata (£37.1m) failed to shine a decade ago, while Raphael Varane (£34m) couldn’t recreate his Real Madrid form in England after his arrival in 2021.
The signing of Donny van de Beek (£35m) proved to be a huge error, while Victor Lindelof (£30.8m) has been unable to establish himself as a regular in the backline, much like Eric Bailly (£30m) before him.