Inside Man United’s 2026 wage bill: who’s earning what at Old Trafford

For all the money thrown at Manchester United since Sir Alex rode off into the sunset, the club still feels like a very expensive fixer‑upper. Erik ten Hag looked the part after his first year, then got the dreaded envelope following a 2-1 defeat at West Ham. Ruben Amorim came in with big ideas, lasted 14 bruising months, and was shown the door as well. Through all that churn, the wage bill tells the tale of a squad torn between marquee cheques and mixed returns.

Goalkeepers: a quiet reset between the sticks

United moved to steady the gloves after Andre Onana’s wobble, handing Senne Lammens a £60,000-per-week deal. He’s been calm, tidy, and frankly an upgrade on what came before. Veteran Tom Heaton, now 39 and with just three outings since 2021, pockets £45,000 a week — more than Altay Bayindir, who sits at £35,000 as the deputy. It’s a sensible pecking order at last, even if the third-choice salary raises an eyebrow.

Defenders: pricey pedigree, patchy availability

With Raphael Varane gone, Matthijs de Ligt leads the back-line payroll on £195,000 per week. Harry Maguire isn’t far behind at £190,000, while Luke Shaw — brilliant when fit, too often not — takes home £150,000. Noussair Mazraoui (£135,000) and Lisandro Martinez (£120,000) round out a core that looks elite on paper but has spent too long in the treatment room.

All eyes are on Leny Yoro, a £52m arrival and one of the costliest teenage signings ever, earning £115,000 per week. There’s class there, but he hasn’t hit full stride yet. Diogo Dalot’s £85,000 feels decent value given his improvement, and Tyrrell Malacia at £75,000 needs a clean bill of health to justify his slice. New face Patrick Dorgu sits at £40,000, while youngsters Ayden Heaven, Tyler Fredricson and Diego Leon are sensibly parked on £25,000 each.

Midfielders: top-heavy and telling

This is where the numbers really sing. Casemiro remains the club’s biggest earner on a staggering £350,000 per week, set to move on in the summer — a reminder of a short-term punt that never fully paid its way. Bruno Fernandes is next at £300,000, and you can see the value: for the second straight season he led the Premier League for chance creation, racking up 114 opportunities for teammates. He talks the talk and walks it.

Mason Mount (£150,000) has endured a stop-start spell and simply hasn’t had the minutes to justify the outlay. Manuel Ugarte at £120,000 still looks like a square peg in a round hole. Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo — one of the brightest young things in the division — is on just £25,000 a week. There’s been chatter about his minutes under Amorim; with the Portuguese now gone, United must sort his role and his contract sharpish.

Forwards: new toys, mixed returns

Matheus Cunha arrived from Wolves for big money and earns £180,000 a week; the talent’s obvious, the end product needs to be weekly, not occasional. Benjamin Sesko is reportedly on £160,000 and has the tools to be the long-term No 9 if the service is right. Bryan Mbeumo at £150,000 brings industry and end product from wide, a modern forward in every sense.

Amad Diallo’s renaissance was rewarded with a five-and-a-half-year deal worth around £120,000 per week — deserved on 2024/25 form. Joshua Zirkzee (£105,000) is yet to fully adapt to the pace and needle of the Premier League. And keep an eye on Chido Obi: £15,000 a week now, but he looks a proper prospect.

The verdict: balance sheet vs. balance on the pitch

United’s wage structure is still heavy at the top, where the cheques are fattest and the reliability isn’t always guaranteed. There’s genuine value — Bruno, Dalot, Amad trending the right way — but too much cash sitting in the treatment room or on inconsistent output. Casemiro’s expected exit should loosen the belt; the next step is a coherent ladder that rewards availability, impact, and upside, not just name recognition.

Salaries sourced via Capology and correct as of 23/01/2026. For odds, tips and more football insight, check the best betting sites and keep an eye on where the smart money’s moving.

United have spent like champions. Start delivering like them, and this wage bill will finally look like money well spent.