Dan Ashworth is set to depart his position as Manchester United’s sporting director after just five months in the role. Ashworth, who officially began his duties on July 1 following an extended gardening leave from Newcastle United, will leave the club in the wake of Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.
During his brief tenure, Ashworth oversaw significant activity in both recruitment and managerial changes. Reporting directly to CEO Omar Berrada, a recent hire from Manchester City, Ashworth was responsible for football performance and transfer dealings. Under his stewardship, United invested heavily during the summer transfer window, spending £200 million on players including Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, and Noussair Mazraoui.
Ashworth was also instrumental in leading the managerial transition from Erik ten Hag to Ruben Amorim in October, a move he and Berrada spearheaded. Amorim, seen as a rising star in coaching, was brought in to stabilize the team during a challenging period for the club.
Prior to joining Manchester United, Ashworth earned a reputation as one of the most accomplished sporting directors in football. His successful tenures at Brighton & Hove Albion and the FA preceded his role at Newcastle, where he was credited with laying the groundwork for their recent resurgence. His appointment at United, hailed by INEOS minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe as a major coup, was seen as a signal of the club’s ambition to modernize its football operations.
In a statement, Manchester United announced Ashworth’s departure by mutual agreement, saying: “Dan Ashworth will be leaving his role as sporting director of Manchester United by mutual agreement.” The decision marks the end of a short but impactful chapter in the club’s recent history, leaving questions about the direction of United’s sporting strategy moving forward.
