Dan Ashworth, Sporting Director of Manchester United, has stepped down from his role just five months after joining the club. His departure was officially announced on Sunday, following a challenging period for the Premier League giants.
Ashworth, who took up the position on July 1, 2024, played a pivotal role during the summer transfer window, where the club spent over £200 million to strengthen the squad. Despite these efforts, Manchester United has faced struggles on the pitch, and the situation came to a head after a disappointing 3-2 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
In a statement issued by the club, United confirmed the decision: “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 well for the future.”
Before joining United, Ashworth was highly regarded, with minority owner Jim Ratcliffe describing him as “one of the best sporting directors in the world.” At Old Trafford, Ashworth worked closely with Chief Executive Omar Berrada in appointing Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim.
Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag after a poor run of results left United languishing in 14th place. While Amorim has managed two wins, two losses, and a draw in his first five games, the team remains in 13th place with 19 points.
