Manchester United’s 2026/27 season is looming, and it will be here before we know it.
The date for Manchester United’s pre-season return has been confirmed, with players set to report to Carrington on Thursday July 9.
There will be a lot of absentees because of the World Cup. Even the players who have been eliminated by then will be on a FIFA-enforced break before returning.
The World Cup has also complicated United’s transfer business. What supporters really want is for new signings to be in at Carrington for day one of pre-season.
While getting the signings done at all is important, it is also vital for United to get the deals done in a timely manner.
New signings need time to adjust to Michael Carrick and his coaching staff, and also to settle in away from the pitch.
How much better could United’s season have been in 2025/26 if Senne Lammens had been signed in time for pre-season instead of arriving on deadline day, and only making his debut in October?
July 9 is now an unofficial deadline for United to deliver a new signing for Michael Carrick’s squad who will be immediately available.
A deal for Ederson has been provisionally agreed, but he won’t be available when pre-season begins after he was called into the Brazil squad. Linked transfer target Mateus Fernandes would be free to join up right away – if United can close the deal in time.
We are going to delve into the transfer history of the club over the past 10 years to see how many times a new signing has been snapped up in time for the start of pre-season.
What do YOU think of Manchester United’s pre-season schedule for 2026?
2025
Yes – The deal to sign Matheus Cunha was signed in early June and he was available when pre-season began.
The Bryan Mbeumo signing dragged out, leading to him missing the club’s first three pre-season games. Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens did not play in any.
2024
No – United did not agree any deals until mid-July, when Joshua Zirkzee signed. And as he had been away at Euro 2024, he missed the entire pre-season.
Leny Yoro did sign in time to play in United’s second pre-season game, before suffering an unfortunate metatarsal injury in the third.
2023
Yes – Manchester United agreed an early deal to sign Mason Mount in time for him to begin pre-season from the start, and then feature in the friendlies.
This headstart did not help him from a fitness perspective, with the midfielder suffering with injuries. Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund joined later in the window.
2022
Yes – United wrapped up a deal for Tyrell Malacia in early July in time for him to begin pre-season and even feature in the opening friendly.
A move for Christian Eriksen was completed a fortnight later. Lisandro Martinez followed, but it took until after the season had begun with two defeats for United to sign Casemiro.
2021
No – United did conclude an early deal for Jadon Sancho. However, due to playing at the European Championships, he was not available to begin pre-season.
Sancho then suffered illness which further delayed his integration into the team. Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo joined later in the window.
2020
Yes – This was a strange off-season, with players reporting for pre-season in September. Donny van de Beek was signed in time.
The rest of United’s transfer business was concluded on deadline day in early October.
2019
Yes – United moved fairly quickly to sign Dan James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka before the squad reported back for pre-season. Both players were available for the pre-season tour in Australia.
A deal for Harry Maguire took a lot longer to conclude. He was signed days before the new season started, with Ed Woodward eventually backing down and paying Leicester’s asking price.
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2018
Yes – Diogo Dalot was signed in early June, although he arrived with a knee injury that saw him miss pre-season. He was still able to go on tour and get to know the players and staff and get settled in. New signing Lee Grant was also present.
Fred had also been signed but he did not link up with Jose Mourinho’s squad until later because of the World Cup.
2017
Yes – Victor Lindelof was signed at the start of July and he was able to link up immediately with Jose Mourinho’s squad, before putting in some unconvincing pre-season displays.
Romelu Lukaku was also available to hit the ground running in early pre-season matches.
2016
Yes – The Jose Mourinho era began with a deal for Eric Bailly, who was able to link up with the squad for pre-season immediately.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed in early July but only trained with the squad at the end of the month after playing for Sweden at Euro 2016.
Eight times in 10 years
That’s eight times in the last 10 years that Manchester United have had at least one new signing in place for the start of pre-season.
One exception was 2024, with Joshua Zirkzee’s arrival delayed due to the Euros, and Leny Yoro missing the first match. The other exception was 2021, when the Euros again delayed Jadon Sancho joining up with the squad.
You can argue that both of those situations were beyond United’s control.
It would be far better for United to do all of the summer business early, but that is not always practical, especially in a tournament year. Opportunities also open up as the transfer window goes on.
But it is important to have something done and for new coach Michael Carrick to be backed.
The deadline for the start of pre-season has now been set, and we will see if United can sign a new face in time as the date of July 9 hurtles towards us, followed by the club’s first pre-season match on July 17.
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