Man United’s £384m wage bill tops Premier League charts in 2021/22 records

Manchester United have the highest wage bill in the Premier League, according to the 2021/22 financial accounts detailed by The Swiss Ramble.

The Red Devils registered a staggering £384 million wage bill, setting a new record not only for the Premier League campaign but for any club in the division’s storied history.

The comprehensive figure covers not just player salaries but the entire staff on the club’s payroll. It also includes performance-related bonuses plus social security and pension payments.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s £500,000-a-week deal reportedly contributed to a 19.1% increase in the overall figure, amounting to £61.6m more from the previous year.

The Man United wage expenditure surpasses the record of £354.6m set by their eternal rivals Manchester City.

The 2022/23 figures could be different considering Man United’s outlay in the summer transfer window after forking out nearly £170m to recruit seven first-team players.

They also had some notable outgoings, with Alex Telles, Fred and Anthony Elanga among the players who departed Old Trafford. 

But they may not be significant enough to reduce the pressure on the club’s considerable wage bill.

Despite Man United’s mouth-watering wages expenditure, they have just one major trophy to their name over the last six years, with Erik ten Hag guiding the Red Devils to the League Cup last season.

The Old Trafford club reported a net loss of £115.5m for the season and posted an operating loss of £87.4m for the year, with most of the losses attributed to the escalating wage payments.

Unlike their local rivals, Man City’s £354m wage expenditure has rewarded them with enormous success over the years, most recently winning a historic treble.

However, the Cityzens have dropped to third on the ranking, with Liverpool claiming the second spot after recording a mammoth 75% increase in their wage bill since 2017.

Chelsea’s £340m places them in fourth place, but that figure is expected to increase exponentially, considering their transfer market activity in the summer.

The Blues spent a staggering £398 million on new players, the highest among Premier League clubs, and recouped around £226m in transfer fees by parting ways with over 17 players to reduce their wage bill.

Arsenal were not part of the exclusive £300m+ club, but their £212m wage expenditure places them in fifth, closely followed by Tottenham Hotspur, who have a wage bill of £209m.

Only three clubs reported a wage bill below £100m, with Burnley at £92m and Watford at £79m, although both clubs were relegated in the 2021/22 season.

Brentford recorded the lowest wage bill of all Premier League clubs, but they have got more value for their money than any other side in the division, bar Man City.

Their meagre £68m squad helped them claim an impressive 13th-place finish in their debut Premier League campaign before following it up by bagging ninth position last term.

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