Manchester United have confirmed a total of £14.5 million ($18.3 million) spent on sacking manager Erik Ten Hag, sporting director Dan Ashworth, and other members of their football staff, according to the club’s latest financial results, released on Wednesday.
This sum is detailed under "exceptional items" in the results for the quarter ending December 31.
The expenditure came as the 20-time Premier League champions continue to struggle in the current season, sitting in 15th place in the league table following a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday. The club finds itself only slightly ahead of West Ham and Wolves, both teams positioned near the relegation zone.
The decision to dismiss Ten Hag in October, after just 116 days of having his contract extended until 2026, was a costly one. The move to sack the Dutchman was compounded by the swift departure of Ashworth, who had only joined the club in July from Newcastle. Despite lengthy talks, Ashworth left United on December 8, further adding to the financial burden.
According to United’s financial report, the pay-off to Ten Hag and his staff amounted to £10.4 million, with Ashworth’s exit costing an additional £4.1 million. A press release from the club confirmed the total of £14.5 million as the cost related to the departure of Ten Hag and various staff members.
