Manchester United‘s season is being influenced by events beyond the men’s first team, reflecting the club’s growing role in football.
While the focus has been on results, injuries, and transfer news, Uefa has made a financial decision that could have lasting effects.
The women’s game is rapidly expanding, with top clubs noticing the commercial and competitive impact of that growth.
Key themes in Europe include investment, sustainability, and recognition for player development.
A new Uefa payment has brought Manchester United into the spotlight.
According to the Uefa website, Manchester United has received £236,000 after Uefa allocated £7.9 million (€9 million) to clubs for releasing players for Women’s Euro 2025, highlighting the club’s increasing involvement in women’s football.
This amount places United eighth among European clubs and reinforces their role as a significant participant in the tournament.
The payout is part of a program that benefits 103 clubs from 16 federations for allowing players to compete internationally.
Uefa reported that this total is double the £3.9 million (€4.5 million) given out after the 2022 tournament, demonstrating more financial support for women’s football.
Payments were based on the number of days players were released, including 10 preparation days and the tournament’s duration, with a daily rate of £958.61 (€1,095) per player.
While Chelsea (£405,000) and Arsenal (£357,000) led Women’s Super League payments, Manchester United outperformed several well-established European clubs.
Manchester City (£280,000), Everton (£136,000), and Leicester City (£115,000) also surpassed £100,000, showing England’s strong presence across all divisions.
Barcelona (£497,000) topped the overall payments, followed by Bayern Munich (£408,000) and Juventus (£363,000) in the top five.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin highlighted these payments as part of a broader vision, stating: “As women’s football grows, we want everyone to benefit from its success.”
He added, “The club benefits program shows the crucial role European clubs play in developing players for Uefa Women’s Euro 2025.”
Ceferin emphasized that these payouts are not merely financial rewards but investments in the future of the sport, enhancing collaboration between clubs and national teams.
For Manchester United, this payment signifies the growing importance of their women’s programme.
The funds come at a time when United is aiming for stability and progress across all areas, making them particularly welcome.
This stands in contrast to the men’s game, where £195 million (€223 million) was distributed among 901 clubs for Men’s Euro 2024 alone.
Those payments also included compensation for Nations League matches, with daily rates between £2,970 and £8,918 (€3,395 to €10,187).
This payout coincides with the strengthening of ties between United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and European football, as he takes on a new role as a Uefa Technical Observer, analyzing matches across Europe.
Despite the pay gap, United’s strong position in the women’s payments table indicates a positive trend.
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