Manchester United's revenue rises to £141m in just three months after return to Champions League

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Manchester United have announced an increase in turnover – and wages – in the first quarter of the financial year.

The club brought in £141million, up 17 per cent on the same period last year. However, wages have risen by £7.6m to £69.9m (around 12 per cent) largely as a consequence of the return of Champions League bonuses for players and the summer arrivals of Romelu Lukaku, Victor Lindelof and Nemanja Matic. 

Should those figures remain the same throughout the year, it would represent an annual salary figure of £279.6m, which would put them well ahead of any other club in England. 

Manchester United's revenue for the first quarter of the financial year has risen by 17 per cent

Between July and September 2017 the Europa League winners made an extra £15.2m of profit

United’s turnover is comfortably the biggest in England and is second in Europe to Barcelona 

United also made an operating profit of £15.2m, while their net debt, related to the leveraged 2005 takeover by the Glazer family, is down from £337.7m to £268.1m.

However, that drop is thanks to a rise in cash in the bank (from £164m to £216m) and the weakened strength of the dollar – the gross debt figure remains the same.

The numbers also show an uplift in staff numbers from 837 to 914 . This is thought to be down in large part to an increase in scouting staff, and reflects a revamping of the club’s network over the last 12 months.

Ed Woodward, executive vice-chairman, hailed a ‘good start to the season’. He added that United’s new black kit was the fastest selling away kit in the club’s history and pointed out that all Premier League matches this season will be sold out to members.

The increase shows how United have returned to Europe's elite after a fallow few seasons

Woodward also disclosed that United hit 300m interactions across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – 80 per cent more than the next biggest Premier League club. It also emerged that the sale of Adnan Januzaj to Real Sociedad and sell-on fees for Danny Drinkwater and Michael Keane made the club £17.3m.

‘We are just over a quarter of the way through what promises to be another exciting season,’ Woodward said. ‘In the Champions League we have won all four games played to date; we are through to the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup; and are looking forward to the next few months as the number of matches ramps up.’

Last year, United brought in record-breaking revenue of £581.2m. This year, they are expecting between £575m and £585m. The wage bill last term was £263.5m.

United’s turnover is comfortably the biggest in England and is second in Europe only to Barcelona.