Manchester United have only ever sold nine players for more than £25m, a stark contrast to rivals Chelsea and Manchester City, who have turned player sales into a lucrative side business. The Red Devils' inability to generate transfer funds through outgoings has been exposed, with Marcus Rashford potentially the next high-profile player they fail to extract maximum value from.
Nine big-money sales
Express Sport examines the nine anomalies where United did secure significant fees. The earliest was David Beckham's £25m move to Real Madrid in 2003 after a falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson. Daniel James also left for £25m in 2021, a profit on the £15m paid to Swansea two years earlier.
Scott McTominay departed for £25.7m to Napoli, where he has flourished under Antonio Conte, scoring more league goals in two Serie A campaigns than in his entire United career. Mason Greenwood's £26.6m transfer to Marseille in 2024 included clauses that later yielded additional payments, with the forward now at Fenerbahce.
Recent departures
Alejandro Garnacho was sold to Chelsea for £40m in 2025 but struggled at Stamford Bridge and is now on loan at Aston Villa. Rasmus Hojlund moved to Napoli for £43.2m after an extended goalless run, with a permanent clause triggered by Champions League qualification. Angel Di Maria's £44m exit to PSG in 2015 represented a loss on the £60m paid a year earlier.
Romelu Lukaku remains among United's most costly signings at £75m from Everton in 2017, later sold to Inter for slightly less. He eventually joined Napoli for just over £25m in 2024, helping them win Serie A. Cristiano Ronaldo's £80m move to Real Madrid in 2009 remains the club's record sale, a world record at the time.
