Manchester United’s sporting director Dan Ashworth has parted ways with the Red Devils, leaving by mutual agreement after just five months at the club.
Dan Ashworth Leaves Manchester United
Dan Ashworth didn’t last long in Manchester, with United’s 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday night the final nail in the coffin for Ashworth, who lasted just five months at the club.
In an official club statement, Manchester United said: “Dan Ashworth will be leaving his role as Sporting Director of Manchester United by mutual agreement.
The sporting director joined United from Newcastle after being placed on gardening leave in July and he was expected to play a big role in the club’s future after a difficult 2023/24 season.
United are yet to give any other reasoning as to why their sporting director was let go on Saturday night, but it is believed that owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was ‘unhappy with the summer strategy’.
🚨❗️ Dan Ashworth left his role at Manchester United after 5 months, it’s over with the sporting director as revealed by @TheAthleticFC.
Tense situation with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, not happy at all with last summer strategy.
United spent around £3m to get Ashworth from Newcastle. pic.twitter.com/klfc9sQ5jb
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 8, 2024
Ratcliffe received criticism this week from United fans after he raised ticket prices to a minimum price of £66 despite 3% of all matchday tickets remaining unsold.
Ashworth led the way to another high spending transfer window in the summer, with the 53-year-old overseeing a busy period for United that included five new big signings.
Manchester United Signings Under Dan Ashworth
- Leny Yoro – £52m
- Manuel Ugarte – £51m
- Joshua Zirkzee – £36m
- Noussair Mazraoui – £15m
- Matthijis De Ligt – £45m
Ashworth of course also played a big role in the managerial change for United at the start of this season, as the club sacked Erik ten Hag in October who in turn was replaced by new boss Ruben Amorim.
According to the latest accounts report from June 2024, United is operating with a net loss of £113.2million.
Hiring Ashworth from Newcastle in the summer was an expensive operation and the signing of their sporting director as well as the managerial change to begin this season reportedly cost the club around £30m.
With United currently sitting 13th in the Premier League table as the new year approaches, the club will have a difficult task replacing its sporting director before what is sure to be a busy January transfer window.
