Everyone loves to talk about the "United Tax." It’s that invisible fee agents tack onto every transfer negotiation at Old Trafford, and honestly, for the last decade, it’s been a very real problem. But looking at the man united players wages for the 2025/2026 season, you can finally see the ship starting to turn. Slowly. Sorta.
INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe didn't just walk in and slash the budget with a machete. They couldn't. You can’t just delete a £350,000-a-week contract because you don’t like it. But if you look closely at the payroll of this current squad, the era of handing out "retirement home" wages to anyone with a decent YouTube highlight reel seems to be dying out.
Who is actually taking home the most?
Casemiro is still the outlier. The Brazilian veteran sits at the top of the pile, raking in a reported £350,000 every single week. That adds up to a massive £18.2 million a year. Whether he’s worth that in 2026 is a debate that usually ends in a lot of shouting on social media, but it’s a legacy contract from a different regime.
Then you’ve got the captain. Bruno Fernandes is right behind him, earning roughly £300,000 per week. Most fans would argue he’s the only one in that bracket who actually justifies the spend, especially considering he’s the heartbeat of the team. But the real story isn't the guys at the top. It's the new middle class.
Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire are sitting in that £190,000 to £195,000 range. It’s a lot of money, sure, but it’s a far cry from the £300k+ deals United used to hand out to every starting center-back.
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The New Signings and the INEOS Effect
The summer of 2025 brought in some heavy hitters, but the wages reflect a more disciplined approach. Matheus Cunha, who took over the iconic number 10 shirt, is reportedly on £180,000 a week. Benjamin Sesko, the man tasked with finally solving the striker crisis, is earning about £160,000.
These aren't small numbers. However, they represent a ceiling that the club is trying to enforce. Reports from club insiders suggest that once the older guard like Casemiro moves on, United wants to keep almost everyone below a £200,000-a-week threshold unless they are truly world-class.
Look at Bryan Mbeumo. He was a massive £70 million transfer, yet he’s earning £150,000 per week. That’s the same as Luke Shaw and Mason Mount. It’s a "performance-driven" structure that rewards consistency rather than just name recognition.
The "Hidden" Wage Bill: Loans and Dead Money
This is where it gets kind of messy. If you think the £166 million active roster bill is high, you have to look at the players who aren't even at Carrington right now.
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Marcus Rashford is currently at Barcelona, and while they’re covering his wages, his £300,000-a-week contract still technically sits on United’s books for the future. Same goes for Jadon Sancho. He’s at Aston Villa on a split-wage deal where United is still paying a chunk—roughly £50,000 a week—just to have him play elsewhere.
- Casemiro: £350,000/week (£18.2m annual)
- Bruno Fernandes: £300,000/week (£15.6m annual)
- Matthijs de Ligt: £195,000/week (£10.14m annual)
- Harry Maguire: £190,000/week (£9.88m annual)
- Matheus Cunha: £180,000/week (£9.36m annual)
- Benjamin Sesko: £160,000/week (£8.32m annual)
Then there's the "dead money." Small amounts paid to released players or youth prospects on their way out. It’s only a few million, but it’s a symptom of the poor planning that plagued the club for years.
What about the future stars?
Kobbie Mainoo is the name on everyone’s lips, but his wage is surprisingly low compared to his impact. He’s reportedly on £25,000 a week. Now, don't feel too bad for him—that’s over a million pounds a year—but in the context of the Premier League, he’s one of the best-value players in the country.
Expect that to change soon. A new contract for Mainoo is almost certainly the top priority for the board. If he jumps to the £100,000-a-week mark, he’d still be earning less than Joshua Zirkzee (£105,000) or Manuel Ugarte (£120,000).
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The Reality of the Man United Players Wages
Maintaining a squad like this is a massive financial juggling act. United’s total annual wage bill for the 2025/26 season is hovering around the £156.7 million mark for the active squad. When you factor in the loans and the youth academy, it pushes closer to £170 million.
It sounds astronomical. But compared to the years when they were paying David de Gea £375,000 and Alexis Sanchez even more, it's actually progress. The club is finally moving away from the "Galactico" model of buying aging stars on massive contracts. Instead, they’re paying for potential and peak years.
Noussair Mazraoui and Leny Yoro are perfect examples. Mazraoui is on £135,000, and Yoro, despite being one of the most hyped teenagers in world football, is on £115,000. These are sensible, scalable salaries.
Why the Wage Structure Matters for FFP
The Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) don't care about your history or your stadium size. They care about the bottom line. By trimming the top-heavy wages, United is opening up "headroom" to buy more players.
If they can get Casemiro's £18 million off the books next summer, that's theoretically enough to sign two or three high-quality players on £120,000-a-week deals. That’s how you build squad depth without getting hit with a points deduction.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Watch the Expirations: Harry Maguire's contract is up in 2026. Whether he’s offered a new deal or allowed to leave will be the biggest indicator of how strict the new wage ceiling actually is.
- Mainoo's Extension: Keep an eye on the terms of Kobbie Mainoo’s next contract. If it stays under £150,000, it confirms the club is serious about a disciplined hierarchy.
- The Loan Situation: United needs to permanently move on from Rashford and Sancho. Having £550,000 in combined weekly wages potentially returning to the books is a massive financial risk.
- Value for Money: Evaluate players like Amad Diallo (£120,000) and Diogo Dalot (£85,000) against their performance. These are the "value" contracts that allow the club to spend big elsewhere.
The days of Manchester United being a "cash cow" for underperforming veterans are ending. It's not a perfect system yet, and there are still some heavy contracts dragging down the average, but the 2026 wage bill shows a club that is finally starting to respect its own bank account.