United in Focus ranks Manchester United’s top 14 most expensive transfer sales of all time.
Manchester United have never really been a selling club. Being one of the most dominant clubs in English football, it’s usually the Premier League powerhouses who buy and keep hold of their first-team squad players.
That being said – this doesn’t mean there haven’t been a few sales who have obtained a pretty penny at Old Trafford.
So, with this – here are the top 14 most expensive transfer sales from Manchester United in the club’s history.
14 – Juan Sebastian Veron – £15m
Juan Sebastian Veron was sold by Manchester United to Chelsea in August 2003 for £15m.
- Manchester United appearances: 82
- Bought for: £28.1m
- Profit/Loss: -£13.1m
13 – Danny Welbeck – £16m
Danny Welbeck was sold by Manchester United to Arsenal in September 2014 for £16m.
- Manchester United appearances: 142
- Bought for: Academy
- Profit/Loss: +£16m
12 – Jaap Stam – £16 million
Jaap Stam was sold by Manchester United to Lazio in August 2001 for £16m.
- Manchester United appearances: 127
- Bought for: £10.6m
- Profit/Loss: +£5.4m
11 – Dean Henderson – £20 million
Dean Henderson was sold to Crystal Palace by Erik ten Hag in August 2023 for £20m.
- Manchester United appearances: 29
- Bought for: Academy
- Profit/Loss: +£20m
10 – Mason Greenwood – £23.3 million
Mason Greenwood was sold to Marseille in July 2024. He was sold for an initial £23.3 million.
This fee can rise, taking Greenwood higher up this list, with a further £3.4 million potentially due in add-ons.
Manchester United have also agreed a 50 per cent sell-on fee as part of the deal, potentially making this a very lucrative sale in the long run.
- Manchester United appearances: 129
- Bought for: Academy
- Profit/Loss: +£23.3m
9 – Morgan Schneiderlin – £24 million
Morgan Schneiderlin was sold by Manchester United to Everton in January 2017 for £24m.
- Manchester United appearances: 47
- Bought for: £25m
- Profit/Loss: -£1m
8 – David Beckham – £24.5 million
David Beckham was sold by Manchester United to Real Madrid in June 2003 for £24.5m.
- Manchester United appearances: 394
- Bought for: Academy
- Profit/Loss: +£24.5m
7 – Dan James – £25 million
Dan James was sold by Manchester United to Leeds United in September 2021 for £25m.
- Manchester United appearances: 74
- Bought for: £15m
- Profit/Loss: +£10m
6 – Scott McTominay – £25.7 million
Manchester United sold Scott McTominay to Napoli on transfer deadline day in 2024.
United have negotiated a 10 per cent sell-on clause into the deal.
- Manchester United appearances: 255
- Bought for: £0
- Profit/Loss: +£25.7m
5 – Alejandro Garnacho – £40 million
Manchester United sold Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea in August 2025 for a fee of £40 million, following a fallout with Ruben Amorim.
The sale includes a sell-on fee of 10 per cent, and is the largest up front fee for a Manchester United academy graduate.
- Manchester United appearances: 144
- Bought for: £0
- Profit/Loss: +£40m
4- Rasmus Hojlund – £43 million
Napoli’s Champions League qualification getting confirmed in the 2025/26 season saw their £38m option to buy get triggered, making Rasmus Hojlund a permanent Napoli player from the 2026/27 season.
Including the £5m loan fee, it becomes the fourth-most expensive sale of all time for Man Utd. However, United still make a loss on the fee they paid for him.
Rasmus Hojlund has confirmed his Man Utd exit – Do you think he will make us regret it?
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- Manchester United appearances: 95
- Bought for: £72m (£64m + £8m add-ons)
- Profit/Loss: -£29m
3 – Angel di Maria – £44 million
Angel Di Maria was sold by Manchester United to Paris Saint Germain in August 2015 for £44m.
- Manchester United appearances: 32
- Bought for: £60m
- Profit/Loss: -£16m
2 – Romelu Lukaku – £73 million
Romelu Lukaku was sold by Manchester United to Inter Milan in August 2019 for £73m.
- Manchester United appearances: 89
- Bought for: £75m
- Profit/Loss: -£2m
1 – Cristiano Ronaldo – £80 million
Cristiano Ronaldo was sold by Manchester United to Real Madrid in June 2009 for £80m.
- Manchester United appearances: 346
- Bought for: £12m
- Profit/Loss: +£68m
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