While most Manchester United shares are held by a few wealthy individuals (mostly the Glazer family), the rest are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Manchester United ownership has been a bit of a saga for the last few years, with majority owners the Glazers inviting bids for the sale of the club in 2023.
Eventually, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s staged takeover plan was accepted. Ratcliffe now owns about 30% of the club through an investment plan organised by his company INEOS and has “taken control of football operations”. In this guide, we’ll explain how you can get some skin in the game and buy Manchester United shares for your own portfolio. We’ll also explain the risks, the club’s financial situation and how the Red Devil stock price has fared over the last decade.
Manchester United PLC was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 2012, under the ticker “MANU”. Buying shares is fairly straightforward. Simply follow the steps below to become a Man United shareholder.
Manchester United is a professional football club based in the North West of England. With a total of 20 top-flight league titles and 68 major trophies to its name, Man United is one of the most successful football clubs in the world.
Manchester United’s on-the-field success has enabled it to become one of the most supported football teams on the planet – and one of the richest. Manchester United is currently ranked second in the Forbes 2025 list of the world’s most valuable football clubs. It’s majority-owned by the Glazer Family and valued at around $6.6 billion (roughly £4.91 billion).
In January 2026, Deloitte estimated Manchester United’s annual revenue at €793.1m. That was the eighth highest amongst clubs worlwide, so it’s clearly an earner.When it comes to investing, the share price of listed football clubs should in theory be driven by similar fundamentals to other companies – the outlook for future profits, as well as supply and demand.
But football is an emotional game and this sometimes bleeds off the pitch and into the share price performance. However, Nick Train, fund manager at Lindsell Train and Manchester United shareholder, says short term performance on the field is not a major concern as an investor.
The allure to us of live sports franchises is the loyal fan base that is more valued by advertisers than almost any other entertainment medium,” said Train. “Out of a universe of 12 quoted soccer clubs we own three unique franchises; Juventus, Manchester United and Celtic, which all could be readily described as national icons.
”
Take a look at Manchester United’s share price performance over the last year on the graph below. It’s always important to remember that past performance is no indication of future results.
If you’d prefer to invest indirectly in Manchester United, you could invest in some of its sponsors or global partners. Football club sponsors provide funds directly to football clubs to buy new kit and equipment as well as travel to games. These are the ones available to invest in:
January 5, 2026: Ruben Amorin was sacked after 14 months at the helm of Manchester United. Only a few days earlier, Amorin had challenged the club's board to back him or bin him... and they called his bluff by choosing the latter.
The main risk of investing in Manchester United right now is a pontetial breakdown in the takeover talks and negotiations.
Additional capital is needed to fund an overdue redevelopment of Old Trafford as well as funds to bolster the squad if they’re to compete at the top of the Europe once more. So, it’s an expensive commitment for potential new owners.
There is a question as to how much more upside there would be in the short term. Long term, Manchester United could still be a good investment, but some investors may “buy the rumour, sell the news”. A lot of the positive news might already be priced in.
Explore the providers that offer Manchester United shares.
We currently don't have that product, but here are others to consider:
How we picked theseTo make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, features, ease and range of investments across 30+ platforms are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the platform – simple.
Read the full methodologyAll investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.
Manchester United isn’t the only football team you can buy shares in – you can also buy shares in clubs such as Arsenal, Juventus and Celtic among others. See the table below for all the current football clubs that you can buy shares in.
| Club | Country | League | Link to invest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juventus | Italy | Serie A | Invest nowCapital at risk |
| AS Roma | Italy | Serie A | Invest nowCapital at risk |
| Rangers FC | Scotland | Scottish Premiership | Invest nowCapital at risk |
| Celtic | Scotland | Scottish Premiership | Invest nowCapital at risk |
| Borussia Dortmund | Germany | Bundesliga | Invest nowCapital at risk |
If you’re thinking of throwing some cash into Manchester United shares, remember that this isn’t just a game. You’re buying actual shares in a big-time company, and with that comes the risk of losing your money as well as the chance of making more. Still, being part-owner of a football club like Man United has a unique kind of allure. While it might not feel the same as celebrating a winning Champions League goal, give it some time and the rewards could be just as sweet.
On the other hand, Manchester United has a hefty £1.1 billion debt as of 30 June 2025. This is despite revenue of £666.5 million for the year ending June 2025.
Find out how you can buy shares and invest in Dutch football club AFC Ajax, AKA “Sons of the Gods”.
Find out how you can buy shares and invest in Portuguese football club Sporting Lisbon, AKA “the Lions”.
Chelsea FC isn’t publicly listed, so you can’t invest directly in the club – however, there are ways that you can invest indirectly.
Follow this simple 5 step guide to buy and sell shares in the Italian football club AS Roma.
Ever thought about buying shares in Juventus? We talk you through the process with our simple guide.
Looking to buy Rangers shares? Our guide shows the Rangers share price and explains how to buy shares in Rangers.
In this guide, we show you how to buy shares in the German football club Borussia Dortmund in 5 easy steps. Buy its stock now!
Find out how to buy shares in Celtic FC with this simple guide.