The Glazer family, majority owners of Manchester United, have reportedly put the Premier League club up for sale, with an asking price of around £5 billion.
The development was disclosed by football finance expert Stefan Borson, who made the claim during an appearance on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan programme.
Borson said he had received information from a senior figure in football indicating that a sale process was underway, although the owners had yet to make the development public.
“My understanding from somebody, a senior person in the game, told me that there is a process and that they are for sale,” he said.
He suggested that the Glazers might be pursuing a different approach from their previous attempt to sell the club, which was publicly announced but eventually resulted in British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquiring a minority stake.
Borson put the family’s reported asking price at approximately £5 billion, adding that the owners would be prepared to sell only if their valuation was met.
No official confirmation of sale
Despite the report, Manchester United and the Glazer family have not officially confirmed that the club has been placed on the market.
Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol also challenged the suggestion that a formal sale process was underway, saying there was no indication that anyone had been instructed to sell the Glazers’ shareholding.
Solhekol recalled that during the previous takeover process, the family appointed investment bank Raine Group to oversee the process and invite potential buyers.
He said there was no comparable indication of an appointment or formal sale process this time.
The distinction has left the reported development unconfirmed, with Borson’s information based on an unnamed senior source rather than a public announcement by the club’s ownership.
Glazers still hold majority control
The American family has controlled Manchester United since completing a leveraged takeover in 2005, although its involvement with the club began earlier.
In February 2024, Ratcliffe’s INEOS group completed the acquisition of a 27.7 per cent stake in the club, leaving the Glazers with majority ownership.
The agreement also gave Ratcliffe and INEOS control over football operations, including responsibility for key sporting decisions, while the Glazers retained their controlling stake.
Previous takeover process ended with Ratcliffe’s investment
A full sale would therefore represent a major change in the club’s ownership structure and could potentially bring an end to more than two decades of Glazer control.
The latest report has revived memories of the ownership uncertainty that surrounded United between 2022 and 2024.
In November 2022, the Glazers announced that they were considering strategic alternatives, including a possible full sale or fresh investment.
The process attracted interest from Ratcliffe and Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, who both pursued different takeover proposals.
While Sheikh Jassim sought a full acquisition of the club, Ratcliffe eventually secured a minority investment, with INEOS taking responsibility for football operations.
The Glazers consequently remained in control despite sustained protests from sections of the club’s supporters demanding a complete change of ownership.
£5bn price tag and the club’s commercial value
The reported £5 billion asking price reflects the commercial strength of Manchester United, one of the most recognisable football brands in the world, despite the club’s difficulties in recent seasons.
United reported record revenue of £677.6 million for the 2024/25 financial year, demonstrating its substantial commercial reach even without participation in European competitions during that period.
Borson argued that the club’s global brand and revenue-generating capacity remain attractive to potential investors, regardless of its performances on the pitch.
However, any prospective buyer would also have to consider the club’s financial obligations, infrastructure requirements and the cost of maintaining its competitiveness.
The club’s proposed new stadium project, alongside investment required to strengthen the playing squad, could also feature in any assessment of its long-term value.
Supporters await clarity
The possibility of a sale is likely to attract considerable attention among United supporters, many of whom have consistently opposed the Glazer family’s ownership.
Fan dissatisfaction has centred on the club’s debt, investment decisions, stadium conditions and the team’s failure to maintain the dominance it enjoyed under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The latest ownership report comes amid another difficult period for the club, following the dismissal of Michael Carrick and renewed questions about its leadership and direction.
For now, however, there is no publicly confirmed buyer, formal offer or official announcement of a sale.
Whether the Glazers have genuinely opened a private process or are simply willing to consider an offer that meets their expectations remains unclear.
What is certain is that Borson’s claim has once again placed Manchester United’s ownership structure at the centre of attention, with the reported £5 billion valuation raising fresh questions about the future of the club.
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