The 2025–26 season was the 139th season in the history of Manchester United, their 34th season in the Premier League and their 51st consecutive and 101st overall season in the top flight of English football. The club competed in the Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup, but not in European competitions for the first time since 2014–15. With the retirement of Jonny Evans, United are without a Premier League winner in their squad for the first time since the competition's inaugural season in the 1992–93 season, and without a player who had played under Sir Alex Ferguson for the first time since 1974.
Ruben Amorim began the campaign as head coach but was dismissed in January, after fewer than 14 months in charge due to a disagreement with club's hierarchy. Former United midfielder and under-18s manager Darren Fletcher assumed interim charge. Another former United midfielder, Michael Carrick, was then appointed head coach for the remainder of the season. He became the first United manager, permanent or caretaker, to return to the club since Matt Busby in 1970, having managed the club in three matches in 2021.
As United were eliminated in their first match of both cup competitions for the first time since 1981–82, they played just 40 competitive matches in the season, the fewest since 1914–15, when they played 39. This was the club's first consecutive trophyless campaign since 2021–22. Despite the cup competition disappointments, the season in regards to league form was a vast improvement compared to the previous season with United finishing the season in third place, twelve places higher than they managed during the previous season, securing a return to the UEFA Champions League for the 2026–27 - which will be their first participation in Europe's elite club competition since 2023–24. Captain Bruno Fernandes also broke the Premier League 21 assists record and received the FWA Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season.
Pre-season and friendlies On 9 March 2025, Manchester United confirmed their participation in the Premier League Summer Series in the United States, where they would face West Ham United, Bournemouth and Everton. On 19 March 2025, the club announced a pre-season friendly against Leeds United in Stockholm, Sweden, marking the club's return to the Strawberry Arena where they lifted the UEFA Europa League trophy in 2017. On 30 April 2025, a home friendly against Fiorentina was announced to conclude the club's pre-season schedule, with the match set to mark David De Gea's first appearance at Old Trafford since departing the club in 2023.
DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance19 July 2025Leeds UnitedN0–045,34526 July 2025West Ham UnitedN2–1Fernandes (2) 5' (pen.), 52'82,56630 July 2025BournemouthN4–1Højlund 8', Dorgu 25', Diallo 53', Williams 72'58,9273 August 2025EvertonN2–2Fernandes 19' (pen.), Mount 69'71,0009 August 2025FiorentinaH1–1Gosens 25' (o.g.)67,000
Premier League
United's place in the 2025–26 Premier League was confirmed on 20 April 2025. It is their 34th season in the Premier League. The league fixtures were released on 18 June 2025.
Matches DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendanceLeagueposition17 August 2025ArsenalH0–173,47515th24 August 2025FulhamA1–1Muniz 58' (o.g.)27,51216th30 August 2025BurnleyH3–2Cullen 27' (o.g.), Mbeumo 57', Fernandes 90+7' (pen.)74,2579th14 September 2025Manchester CityA0–352,53414th20 September 2025ChelseaH2–1Fernandes 14', Casemiro 37'74,12410th27 September 2025BrentfordA1–3Šeško 26'17,19314th4 October 2025SunderlandH2–0Mount 8', Šeško 31'74,00410th19 October 2025LiverpoolA2–1Mbeumo 2', Maguire 84'60,3379th25 October 2025Brighton & Hove AlbionH4–2Cunha 24', Casemiro 34', Mbeumo (2) 61', 90+6'73,9876th1 November 2025Nottingham ForestA2–2Casemiro 34', Diallo 81'30,7788th8 November 2025Tottenham HotspurA2–2Mbeumo 32', De Ligt 90+6'61,2107th24 November 2025EvertonH0–174,15810th30 November 2025Crystal PalaceA2–1Zirkzee 54', Mount 63'25,1897th4 December 2025West Ham UnitedH1–1Dalot 58'73,9388th8 December 2025Wolverhampton WanderersA4–1Fernandes (2) 25', 82' (pen.), Mbeumo 51', Mount 62'30,3386th15 December 2025BournemouthH4–4Diallo 13', Casemiro 45+4', Fernandes 77', Cunha 79'73,9516th21 December 2025Aston VillaA1–2Cunha 45+3'43,1577th26 December 2025Newcastle UnitedH1–0Dorgu 24'73,9966th30 December 2025Wolverhampton WanderersH1–1Zirkzee 27'73,9416th4 January 2026Leeds UnitedA1–1Cunha 65'36,9096th7 January 2026BurnleyA2–2Šeško (2) 50', 60'21,0477th17 January 2026Manchester CityH2–0Mbeumo 65', Dorgu 76'74,0045th25 January 2026ArsenalA3–2Mbeumo 37', Dorgu 50', Cunha 87'60,2964th1 February 2026FulhamH3–2Casemiro 19', Cunha 56', Šeško 90+4'73,9324th7 February 2026Tottenham HotspurH2–0Mbeumo 38', Fernandes 81'73,9854th10 February 2026West Ham UnitedA1–1Šeško 90+6'62,4734th23 February 2026EvertonA1–0Šeško 71'52,3264th1 March 2026Crystal PalaceH2–1Fernandes 57' (pen.), Šeško 65'73,9343rd4 March 2026Newcastle UnitedA1–2Casemiro 45+9'52,1843rd15 March 2026Aston VillaH3–1Casemiro 53', Cunha 71', Šeško 81'73,9973rd20 March 2026BournemouthA2–2Fernandes 61' (pen.), Hill 71' (o.g.)11,2503rd13 April 2026Leeds UnitedH1–2Casemiro 69'74,0183rd18 April 2026ChelseaA1–0Cunha 43'39,7333rd27 April 2026BrentfordH2–1Casemiro 11', Šeško 43'73,7733rd3 May 2026LiverpoolH3–2Cunha 6', Šeško 14', Mainoo 77'74,0273rd9 May 2026SunderlandA0–047,2333rd17 May 2026Nottingham ForestH3–2Shaw 5', Cunha 55', Mbeumo 76'74,0153rd24 May 2026Brighton & Hove AlbionA3–0Dorgu 33', Mbeumo 44', Fernandes 48'31,7293rd
League table
FA Cup
As a Premier League side, United entered the FA Cup in the third round and were drawn at home to Brighton & Hove Albion. They were eliminated in the third round for the first time since 2013–14, when they were beaten by Swansea City.
DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance11 January 2026Third roundBrighton & Hove AlbionH1–2Šeško 85'73,888
EFL Cup
As United did not qualify for UEFA competitions, they entered the EFL Cup in the second round and were drawn away to League Two side Grimsby Town. Coming from 2–0 down, they ultimately suffered a shock defeat on penalties.
DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance27 August 2025Second roundGrimsby TownA2–2Mbeumo 75', Maguire 89'8,647
Squad statistics No.Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalDisciplineAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GK Altay Bayındır60000060002DF Diogo Dalot29(5)1101031(5)1503DF Noussair Mazraoui11(9)0000011(9)0304DF Matthijs de Ligt131000(1)013(1)1005DF Harry Maguire19(4)10(1)01120(5)2416DF Lisandro Martínez13(5)0100014(5)0017MF Mason Mount12(11)3100(1)013(12)3208MF Bruno Fernandes (c)359100(1)036(1)95010FW Matheus Cunha29(4)10101031(4)104011FW Joshua Zirkzee5(19)20(1)00(1)05(21)23012DF Tyrell Malacia0(3)000000(3)00013DF Patrick Dorgu15(11)4101017(11)44015DF Leny Yoro18(14)0100019(14)01016FW Amad Diallo27(5)2001028(5)22018MF Casemiro33(1)90(1)00033(2)911119FW Bryan Mbeumo31(2)11000(1)131(3)124023DF Luke Shaw38100003819024GK André Onana000010100025MF Manuel Ugarte8(14)0101010(14)01026DF Ayden Heaven11(6)0001012(6)02030FW Benjamin Šeško17(13)11111019(13)122031GK Senne Lammens32010—3300032FW Chido Obi000000000033DF Tyler Fredricson0(1)000101(1)01035DF Diego León000000000037MF Kobbie Mainoo16(12)1101018(12)12038MF Jack Fletcher0(3)000000(3)00039MF Tyler Fletcher0(2)000000(2)00043MF Toby Collyer000000000048MF Jack Moorhouse000000000061FW Shea Lacey0(3)00(1)0000(4)02170FW Bendito Mantato0(1)000000(1)00072DF Godwill Kukonki000000000077MF Jim Thwaites0000000000Own goals—3—0—0—3—
Transfers
In Date Pos. Name From Fee 12 June 2025 FW Matheus Cunha Wolverhampton Wanderers Undisclosed 5 July 2025 DF Diego León Cerro Porteño Undisclosed 10 July 2025 FW Enzo Kana-Biyik Le Havre Free 21 July 2025 FW Bryan Mbeumo Brentford Undisclosed 29 July 2025 DF Harley Emsden-James Southampton Free 9 August 2025 FW Benjamin Šeško RB Leipzig Undisclosed 1 September 2025 GK Senne Lammens Royal Antwerp Undisclosed
Out Date Pos. Name To Fee 30 June 2025 DF Jonny Evans Retired MF Christian Eriksen Unattached Released DF Victor Lindelöf Unattached GK Hubert Graczyk Wealdstone DF Jack Kingdon Cardiff City DF Sam Murray Carlisle United GK Tom Myles Rochdale DF James Nolan Marine GK Tom Wooster West Ham United 30 August 2025 FW Alejandro Garnacho Chelsea Undisclosed 1 September 2025 FW Antony Real Betis Undisclosed 1 September 2025 MF Zach Baumann Norwich City Undisclosed 17 January 2026 FW Sam Mather Kayserispor Undisclosed 30 January 2026 FW Joe Hugill Kilmarnock Undisclosed 31 January 2026 DF Rhys Bennett Fleetwood Town Undisclosed
Loan out Date Pos. Name To Until 10 July 2025 DF Sonny Aljofree Notts County 3 January 2026 15 July 2025 DF Habeeb Ogunneye Newport County14 January 2026 19 July 2025 FW Joe Hugill Barnet 22 July 2025 GK Elyh Harrison Shrewsbury Town 15 January 2026 1 August 2025 MF Jack Moorhouse Leyton Orient 2 February 2026 FW Ethan Wheatley Northampton Town 12 January 2026 15 August 2025 MF Toby Collyer West Bromwich Albion 1 January 2026 29 August 2025 DF Louis Jackson Solihull Moors 8 January 2026 1 September 2025 DF Harry Amass Sheffield Wednesday 5 January 2026 10 July 2025 FW Enzo Kana-Biyik Lausanne-Sport 30 June 2026 17 July 2025 MF Dan Gore Rotherham United 23 July 2025 FW Marcus Rashford Barcelona 28 July 2025 GK Radek Vítek Bristol City 31 August 2025 FW Ethan Williams Falkirk 1 September 2025 FW Rasmus Højlund Napoli FW Jadon Sancho Aston Villa FW Ethan Ennis Fleetwood Town 12 September 2025 GK André Onana Trabzonspor 24 January 2026 DF Harry Amass Norwich City 30 January 2026 MF Toby Collyer Hull City 2 February 2026 FW Gabriele Biancheri Rotherham United FW James Scanlon Swindon Town FW Ethan Wheatley Bradford City MF Jacob Devaney St Mirren 3 February 2026 MF Sékou Koné Lausanne-Sport
Notes
Statistics Attendances from season to season Includes all competitive home, away and neutral-site matches. Last updated on 1 July 2026.
Season Game type Premier League total Premier League matches Premier League average FA Cup total FA Cup matches FA Cup average EFL Cup total EFL Cup matches EFL Cup average Total Matches Average2025–26 Home 1,405,506 19 73,974 73,888 1 73,888 0 0 — 1,479,394 20 73,970 Away 763,420 19 40,180 0 0 — 8,647 1 8,647 772,067 20 38,603 Neutral 0 0 — 0 0 — 0 0 — 0 0 — Total 2,168,926 38 57,077 73,888 1 73,888 8,647 1 8,647 2,251,461 40 56,287
See also 2025–26 Manchester United W.F.C. season
References