Our business ordinarily generates a significant amount of cash from our Matchday revenues and commercial contractual arrangements at or near the beginning of our fiscal year, with a steady flow of other cash received throughout the fiscal year. In addition, we ordinarily generate a significant amount of our cash through advance receipts, including season tickets (which include general admission season tickets and seasonal hospitality tickets), most of which are received prior to the end of June for the following season. Our Broadcasting revenues from the Premier League and UEFA are paid periodically throughout the season, with primary payments made in late summer, December, January and the end of the football season. Our sponsorship and other commercial revenue tends to be paid either quarterly or annually in advance. However, while we typically have a high cash balance at the beginning of each fiscal year, this is largely attributable to deferred revenue, the majority of which falls under current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet, and this deferred revenue is unwound through the statement of profit or loss over the course of the fiscal year. Over the course of a year, we use our cash on hand to pay employee benefit expenses, other operating expenses, interest payments and other liabilities as they become due. This typically results in negative working capital movement at certain times during the year. In the event it ever became necessary to access additional operating cash, we also have access to cash through our revolving facilities. As of 30 June 2025, we had £160 million of outstanding loans under our revolving facilities.
Pursuant to our contract with adidas, which began in August 2015 and was extended in July 2023, the minimum guarantee payable by adidas over the life of the extended agreement to June 2035 is £1,650 million, being £750 million per the original term, plus £900 million per the extension, subject to certain adjustments. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Revenue Sectors — Commercial – Retail, Merchandising, Apparel & Product Licensing” for additional information regarding our agreement with adidas.
We also maintain a mixture of long-term debt and capacity under our revolving facilities so that we have sufficient funds available for short-term working capital requirements and for investment in the playing squad and other capital projects.
Our cost base is more evenly spread throughout the fiscal year than our cash inflows. Employee benefit expenses and fixed costs constitute the majority of our cash outflows and are generally paid evenly throughout the 12 months of the fiscal year.
In addition, transfer windows for acquiring and disposing of registrations occur in January and the summer. During these periods, we may require additional cash to meet our acquisition needs for new players and we may generate additional cash through the sale of existing registrations. Depending on the terms of the agreement, transfer fees may be paid or received by us in multiple installments, resulting in deferred cash paid or received. Although we have not historically drawn on our revolving facilities during the summer transfer window, if we seek to acquire players with values substantially in excess of the values of players we seek to sell, we may be required to utilize cash available from our revolving facilities to meet our cash needs.
Acquisition and disposal of registrations also affects our trade receivables and payables, which affects our overall working capital. Our trade receivables include accrued revenue from sponsors as well as transfer fees receivable from other football clubs, whereas our trade payables include transfer fees and other associated costs in relation to the acquisition of registrations.
Capital expenditures at Old Trafford
Our stadium, Old Trafford, remains one of our key assets and a significant part of the overall experience we provide to our followers. Old Trafford has been our home stadium since 1910 and has undergone significant changes over the years. To maintain the quality of service, enhance the fan experience and increase Matchday revenue, we continually invest in the refurbishment and regeneration of Old Trafford. Following a substantial development prior to the 2006/07 season, we expanded seating capacity at Old Trafford from approximately 68,000 to 74,240. In addition, we have continued to invest in improving hospitality suites and office and catering facilities through refurbishment programs.
We record these investments as capital expenditures. Capital expenditure at Old Trafford was £13.1 million, £8.2 million and £13.4 million for the years ended 30 June 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
In addition, we spent approximately £42.7 million, £4.8 million and £8.2 million for the years ended 30 June 2025, 2024 and 2023 respectively, at Carrington, our training facility. The significant increase in the year ended 30 June 2025 is due to the investment in our new, world-class men’s first team facility, which opened in August 2025.
Digital media capital expenditure
We intend to continue investing in our digital media assets, including our website, mobile application and digital media capabilities.