Manchester’s shares rose by $1.5 billion

The value of shares in the legendary English club surged by as much as 70 percent over the course of seven days.

While the shares of Juventus have recently plummeted on the stock exchange, Manchester United’s stock is telling quite the opposite story. The iconic club from Old Trafford has long been one of the most valuable brands in the entire sports industry—even if recent performances on the pitch have fallen short of expectations.

The Red Devils, as the club is nicknamed, attract not only massive crowds of fans but also investors. Over the past week, Manchester United shares have seen a sharp increase in value. Last Wednesday, a single share was worth $13.03. One week later, the price had risen to $22.14 per share—representing a 70 percent increase.

These latest market results mark a new record for Manchester United on the New York Stock Exchange, where the club’s shares are listed. The previous all-time high was a 51 percent increase in late 2012. This latest surge is both steeper and more dynamic, driven by developments at Old Trafford in recent days.

Anyone following English football will have noticed several major announcements coming out of the Red Devils’ camp. First came the official termination of Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract. Just hours later came an even bigger media bombshell: the Glazer family, long-time owners of the club, announced they were open to selling their premium sports asset.

The market’s reaction to the Glazers’ statement was swift. The increased valuation of United’s shares boosted the club’s market capitalization by as much as $1.5 billion—jumping from $2.16 billion to $3.7 billion.

Manchester United shares are seen as a good investment by sports analyst Jozef Tokos. He notes that what makes them unique is that United is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Beyond the usual factors driving growth, Tokos points to another noteworthy influence.

"The week’s development was truly sharp, but I see it as a classic example of the market reacting to a sequence of headlines coming in quick succession. After the Ronaldo and Glazer news, share value also got a boost from reports that one of the potential buyers is Apple," the analyst told Economic Daily.

Even though recent years have seen rivals like Liverpool and Manchester City dominate English football on the pitch, in the long term, the Red Devils will remain among the elite in sports marketing. And if a wealthy consortium does acquire the club, fans may have reason for cautious optimism.

"The current share price reflects the promise of future success. The market is responding to the expectation that the Man United brand will be in good hands," Tokos added.

According to Forbes, Manchester United’s current valuation stands at approximately $4.6 billion.