Transfer calculator
Can Manchester United afford this transfer?
This link opens with the latest financial snapshot for Manchester United already loaded.
Models the current 2026/27 Premier League season under the squad-cost rules (115% Red Threshold primary). Historical old-PSR season views are on club pages.
Sale at £59m → £499m room to the Red Threshold. Edit the scenario below - every figure is an independent estimate, not an official ruling.
From the squad ledger: wage £8m (reported gross salary), book value £82m (apportioned share of the club's filed charge, not a reported fee), 5 seasons left to 2031-06-30. Market value £59m (specialist database).
The result reflects this sale - use “Add to scenario” to stack more moves.
This scenario would leave Manchester United with approximately £499m of room to the 115% Red Threshold. It would increase remaining spending room by £5m. The estimated squad-cost ratio would fall from 56.7% to 55.4%, leaving them below green.
| Contract | Before Green (85%) | Before Red (115%) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | £496mat £74m wages | £999mat £150m wages |
| 4 years | £601mat £90m wages | £1210mat £182m wages |
| 5 years | £689mat £103m wages | £1387mat £208m wages |
The largest fee whose annual cost (fee spread over the contract, plus wages and estimated associated costs) fits inside the room. Zero means no room at that wage.
The 7 most room-efficient sales reach £59m of room for £20m of proceeds.
- Karl Darlow · Goalkeeperin planat £0m (market value): £5m of room, £0m book profit, £5m a year of cost saved
- Tom Heaton · Goalkeeperin planat £0m (market value): £2m of room, £0m book profit, £2m a year of cost saved
- Jack Fletcher · Attacking Midfieldin planat £1m (market value): £8m of room, £1m book profit, £7m a year of cost saved
- Tyler Fletcher · Central Midfieldin planat £1m (market value): £7m of room, £1m book profit, £6m a year of cost saved
- Dermot Mee · Goalkeeperin planat £4m (book value, nil profit): £9m of room, £0m book profit, £9m a year of cost saved
- Harry Maguire · Centre-Backin planat £7m (market value): £15m of room, £5m book profit, £11m a year of cost saved
- Luke Shaw · Left-Backin planat £7m (market value): £14m of room, £5m book profit, £10m a year of cost saved
- Shea Lacey · Right Wingerat £4m (market value): £9m of room, £1m book profit, £8m a year of cost saved
Market values are specialist-database figures, not offers. Players already sold in the scenario above and loan-in players are excluded; 1 player has no market value or book value in evidence and cannot be priced.
This assumes transfer fees are spread over five-year contracts before wages, agent fees, bonuses and registration timing. It is a translation of room, not a recommended budget.
| Move | Annual transfer-fee cost | Annual wages | Agent/signing costs | Annual squad-cost change | Book profit/loss | Revenue impact | Room effect | After this move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kobbie Mainoo | -£16m | -£8m | £0m | -£24m | -£23m | -£23m | £5m more room | 55.4% · Below Green £499m to Red · £248m to Green |
“After this move” is the cumulative path: the club's position once each move in the scenario has landed, in order.
Amortisation spreads a fee across the contract. A £50m signing on a five-year deal is a £10m annual cost before wages and other fees.
Room effect combines squad-cost change and football-income impact. A sale can help twice: lower costs and, if profitable, stronger football income.
Book profit or loss is sale proceeds minus remaining book value and sale costs. Academy sales often have low book value.
Owner equity is shown only for old PSR because the new squad-cost test is linked to football income, not shareholder funding.
A transfer fee is spread over the contract: a £50m fee on a five-year deal adds about £10m a year. Wages count in full each season. Annual squad cost ≈ fee ÷ contract years + wages + a small allowance for agent and bonus costs. The calculator compares that yearly cost with Manchester United's estimated football income - the 85% Green Threshold opens the levy / allowance zone; the 115% Red Threshold is the primary line, where sporting sanctions (points) begin.
Manchester United figures here are independent PSRwatch estimates, not official Premier League calculations. Read how PSRwatch builds its estimates, or the plain-English explainers on how transfer fees are spread over contracts and the Premier League squad-cost rule.