Man Utd’s £44m black hole laid bare as new blow emerges following financial results

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Manchester United have reported a decline in commercial revenue within their second-quarter financial figures. The commercial revenue for the quarter stood at £78.5million, representing a fall of £6.6m compared to the corresponding period last year.

In the second-quarter financial results published on Wednesday afternoon, United revealed sponsorship revenue reached £37.2million, marking a reduction of £5.8million. United's training kit sponsorship arrangement with Tezos came to a close at the end of June.

United have proceeded this season without a training kit sponsor for the first time since 2021/2022, when their partnership with AON ended. The Tezos arrangement was valued at £24m per season.

Matheus Cunha was photographed in a Tezos-branded hoodie in unveiling images when he joined from Wolves , but the agreement had lapsed by the time of Bryan Mbeumo's arrival .

United announced a reduction in their sponsorship revenue in December's financial figures, and the club are preparing for a further decline because the sleeve sponsorship arrangement with DXC Technology , which is believed to be worth £20m per season, will conclude at the end of the campaign.

As Tezos and DXC will both be out of the picture, United will effectively be £44m down in terms of sponsorship this summer, unless they can find a suitable replacement.

DXC have featured on the club's home, away and third kits across four seasons. The multi-year arrangement has additionally seen DXC deploy their technical knowledge to enhance the manner in which United connect with supporters through their digital channels.

The Premier League allowed sleeve sponsorship from the beginning of the 2017/18 campaign. United unveiled Kohler as the inaugural sponsors of their sleeves for the subsequent season under a multi-year arrangement.

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That agreement concluded in 2022, paving the way for DXC's arrival. United insiders claim there is a healthy pipeline of prospective sponsors waiting in the wings, yet the most recent financial figures underline the urgency of securing deals in the months ahead.

Commercial revenue also incorporates income generated from retail, merchandising, apparel and product licensing, which stood at £41.3m in the second quarter results, representing a reduction of £0.8m compared to the equivalent period last year.

Matchday revenue at Old Trafford has also fallen below the corresponding period last year. United sources have indicated the £2.5m shortfall is largely attributable to United hosting three fewer home cup fixtures in the current quarter compared to the previous year's equivalent period.

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