Man Utd's biggest flop signings of the Glazer era, ranked

After 18 years of protests and division, the Glazer family's control of Manchester United ended when Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS bought a 25 percent stake in early 2024. The Glazers had put just £270 million of their own money into the £790m deal that brought them to the club in 2005, with the remainder borrowed against United.

They were frequently criticised for treating the club as a cash cow and rarely attending matches, while co‑chairman Joel Glazer ran the business side from Washington. The family did, however, back the first team financially, spending more than £2bn on players and a club‑record £210m in the 2022 summer window.

United collected 13 major trophies under their ownership, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League, but consistent success proved elusive after Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013. Several high‑profile signings failed to live up to expectations.

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