Sir Jim Ratcliffe receives Premier League approval to buy 25% Man Utd stake

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 15 Feb 2024 08:46 GMT
• 3 min read

The Premier League have officially approved Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s purchase of a 25% minority stake in Manchester United FC.

The deal is expected to be fully completed next week, but a major step has been taken towards after Ratcliffe passed the Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test.

Ratcliffe is the CEO of INEOS and will head up all football operations at Man Utd when the deal is officially completed.

The Glazers remain in charge at Old Trafford, however Ratcliffe has a minority stake and his INEOS group will have a major say in the day-to-day running of Erik ten Hag’s side, including transfer business.

Ratcliffe, a boyhood Man Utd fan, agreed a deal with the club in late December, but has been forced to wait until the deal was approved by the Premier League board, which has now happened.

It is expected that the deal will go through next week.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe receives Premier League approval for Man Utd investment

A Premier League statement has confirmed Ratcliffe’s successful bid to acquire a minority stake at Old Trafford.

The statement read: “Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of 25 per cent of Manchester United FC, and further investment of $300 million in the club, has been approved by the Premier League Board, following the completion of the Owners’ and Directors’ Test (OADT).

“The Board agreed to the change of the club’s ownership structure last week, and this has now been officially ratified by an Independent Oversight Panel.

“The Premier League’s Owners’ Charter has also been signed.

“This is the first acquisition of Control to be reviewed and approved by a new Independent Oversight Panel following changes to the process which were agreed by Premier League clubs in March 2023.

“The Premier League now awaits confirmation of the transaction’s completion.”

Man Utd have already reaped the benefit of Ratcliffe’s arrival with the signing of Omar Berrada from Manchester City. Berrada has become the Red Devils’ new CEO.