A possible date for when the Glazers might sell Man Utd is coming out, thanks to some hidden details in the contract offers.
Manchester United, owned by the Glazer family, have faced a lot of criticism lately. But could they soon sell the club to current minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe?
Most fans would welcome the Glazers stepping away after more than 20 years in charge. Since taking over in 2005, the Glazers have left the club with a huge amount of debt, which many supporters don’t like. As of September 2026, United still owed over £1 billion, though that’s down from £1.3 billion at the end of 2025.
The Glazers still hold the majority of shares, even after selling a smaller part to Ratcliffe and INEOS in 2024. Ratcliffe, the British billionaire, now controls football operations. Since then, United have only won one domestic trophy, the 2024 FA Cup, and have fired two managers, Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim. Current boss Michael Carrick is also under pressure after a tough start to the 2026/27 season.
Ratcliffe’s choices haven’t gone without criticism, like when he cut 450 jobs to save £11.3 million in wages.
So, could Ratcliffe buy the Glazers out? It seems possible, but it won’t be simple. A recent report from The Telegraph explains how this might happen by 2029. A new refinancing deal this summer might be a sign that INEOS wants to take majority control, which could unlock money for a new 100,000-seat stadium.
The club’s new £441 million refinancing deal includes “senior secured notes” and two important concepts:
First, a “New Stadium Group,” which is a separate company to own and manage the new stadium. This keeps the stadium separate from the club’s assets that lenders could claim.
Second, a “Stadium Event,” which means money raised specifically for the new stadium. This event would allow the club to pay back a $550 million loan without penalties, but only after June 10, 2029.
There’s also a separate $225 million loan that can be repaid anytime, but the deals encourage clearing all the Glazers’ debt along with stadium financing after that 2029 date.
For Ratcliffe and INEOS, who own nearly 29% of the club, paying off or refinancing the Glazer debt only makes sense if they have majority ownership. Football finance writer James Bajwa says the loan terms make it easier for INEOS to take control and manage the debt on their own, giving the club more flexibility to build a new stadium.
Meanwhile, former United captain Gary Neville doesn’t hold back. On a recent show, he told the Glazers they must sell the club.
“There’s £1.2 billion of debt, and the club is held back because of it,” Neville said. “They’ve spent a fortune on players but on borrowed money. The Glazers need to sell now. They’ve been absent for years, and the fans have had enough.”
Neville added that the football side has struggled for over a decade, and the Glazers have passed responsibility to others, which isn’t right.
“It’s time for them to go. The fans want it, the club needs it, and it’s long overdue.”
Besides Manchester United, the Glazers also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an NFL team.
Looking ahead, United might be eyeing new strikers, with a five-man shortlist emerging as January approaches. One name linked is Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
In short, things could be changing at Manchester United soon, and many fans hope it’s for the better.