Business · updated 1h ago · 2 min read
Manchester United Sells Old Trafford Pitch Turf Cubes For £125 After First Batch Sells Out
Old Trafford turf cubes sold for £125 each, first batch sold out. Club debt exceeds £1 billion despite record revenue and modest operating profit.
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£125 turf cubes
Manchester United is selling pieces of the Old Trafford pitch for £125 each, with the first batch already sold out. Manchester United said the initiative is possible because the Old Trafford pitch was completely dug up and stripped back to its foundation in June for the first time in 14 years. Manchester United reported record revenue of £677.6m and a £22.6m operating profit for 2025-26, while also reporting a pre-tax loss of £43m.
Manchester United confirmed £63.5m had been spent on buying land for the team’s new stadium, which is expected to cost more than £2bn overall. Manchester United presented the preserved turf in glass cubes inside a black case, describing the cubes as a "priceless memento of iconic games played at home and keeps the memories of matchdays alive".
Debt and losses
Manchester United’s financial results came as the club reported a seventh straight annual loss, with the Guardian describing a £43m net loss for 2025-26 and noting the increase from £33m for the previous 12 months. The Guardian said the club increased its borrowing facility by £93m to help fund the redevelopment of Old Trafford, and it also tied the losses to compensation paid to the sacked manager Ruben Amorim. Omar Berrada told an investor call that the club’s transfer window had been planned with "financial sustainability in mind".
The Guardian said United’s net finance costs more than tripled to £69.2m from £21.2m, and it said the club refinanced several loans, increasing its net debt from £471.9m to £577.6m. The Guardian said United sources linked the refinancing to funding for the £63.5m purchase of a plot of land next to Old Trafford required to build their proposed new 100,000 capacity stadium.
What comes next
Manchester United said it would sell 7x7cm sections of turf, and the club’s email to fans offered the chance to buy 7cm x 7cm clumps of turf for £125. Manchester United said the Old Trafford pitch was relaid this summer for the first time in 14 years, and the club’s preserved sections were turned into memorabilia for supporters. The Guardian said United’s wage bill dropped to £301m, down 3.6% on the previous year, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe implemented a major cost-cutting regime.
The Guardian said United forecast revenue of between £740m and £760m for 2026-27, and it said the club expected increased sponsorship deals with Betway and SumUp to bring in £20m and £22m a year respectively. Manchester United said it would continue a disciplined approach to ensure its finances remain sustainable, with Omar Berrada saying: "we will continue to take a disciplined approach to ensure our finances remain sustainable."