Dan Ashworth has stepped down from his role as Manchester United’s sporting director after just five months in the position.
Ashworth officially joined the club on July 1, following an extended gardening leave from his previous role at Newcastle United. However, his transition to Old Trafford has proven challenging, and his departure has now been mutually agreed upon.
The decision was made after a meeting with chief executive Omar Berrada at Old Trafford, following United’s Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe played a significant role in the decision to part ways with Ashworth, a move that is set to surprise many staff members, given Ashworth’s high-profile efforts to help reshape the club’s structure.
Sources, who have remained anonymous to protect their relationships, have indicated that Manchester United initiated the separation. The club, however, has stated that the final decision to end Ashworth’s contract was mutual.
A statement from the club read: “Dan Ashworth will be leaving his role as sporting director of Manchester United by mutual agreement. We would like to thank Dan for his work and support during this transitional period for the club and wish him all the best for the future.”
Under the new Ratcliffe-led hierarchy, overseen by Sir Dave Brailsford, Ashworth was given responsibility for football performance, recruitment, and operations. Jason Wilcox, another recent arrival, reported to Ashworth as technical director.
Ashworth’s role also placed him in regular contact with Berrada, who joined the club in the summer from Manchester City.
Ashworth’s tenure at United saw him contribute to major decisions, including the extension of Erik ten Hag’s contract in June. He was also heavily involved in the club’s summer transfer business, which saw signings such as Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs De Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, and Joshua Zirkzee for a total outlay of approximately £200 million ($280 million). Ashworth was frequently quoted in the official announcements for each transfer.
Despite being part of the conversation around Ten Hag’s future, Ashworth was notably absent from the discussions regarding the appointment of Ruben Amorim, a move that was largely driven by Berrada.
Ratcliffe had previously spoken highly of Ashworth. In February, the United co-owner praised him as “one of the top sporting directors in the world” and expressed confidence in his ability to handle the challenges at Manchester United. “It’s the biggest challenge at the biggest club in the world,” Ratcliffe said. “It would be different at City because you’re maintaining a level. Here it’s a significant rebuilding job. He would be a very good addition.”
However, the reality has proven more difficult, leading to the unexpected decision to part ways. Ashworth’s departure leaves United with a significant gap to fill within its evolving structure.
Ashworth’s appointment had followed lengthy negotiations after he informed Newcastle in February that he intended to join Manchester United. Reports indicated that Ashworth had considered taking Newcastle to arbitration to expedite his move, though a resolution was eventually reached. While Newcastle had sought a £20 million compensation fee, United agreed to pay around £2 to £3 million for Ashworth’s release.
Before his time at Newcastle, Ashworth had resigned from his role as technical director at Brighton & Hove Albion in February 2022. He had joined Brighton in 2019 after a tenure as technical director at the Football Association, where he had worked since 2012, following his time at West Bromwich Albion. At the FA, Ashworth was credited with playing an influential role in England’s success at the under-17 and under-20 World Cups in 2017.
