The record points to a squad that looks expensive but thin when injuries bite. Fourteen senior signings have arrived under Wilcox, yet the 2-0 defeat at Atlético on 13 October exposed a bench packed with academy players. Seven of the starting eleven were his signings, and seven first-team players were unavailable. United have spent heavily without matching the results of their rivals, and the criticism from inside the dressing room reflects that frustration. That pattern raises hard questions about how the club builds its group.

Fourteen Signings and Mixed Results

Wilcox joined as technical director on 19 April 2024 and became Director of Football on 4 June 2025. In that time, the club has made 14 senior signings across four windows. League finishes show the difficulty, with 15th place in 2024-25 followed by third in 2025-26. Those numbers sit uneasily beside the money spent.

Contract lengths show a long-term approach. Zirkzee, Yoro, Ugarte and Heaven are tied to 2029, while Dorgu, Cunha, Mbeumo, Šeško and Lammens run to 2030 and Santos to 2031. The model gives the club control, but it also means mistakes remain on the books for years. That puts pressure on every purchase to succeed.

Premier League Man Utd Wilcox transfer record

The individual returns vary sharply. Mbeumo has played eight times with three goals and one assist, taking 97.5 percent of available minutes, and Cunha has two goals and two assists in 83.2 percent. Lammens has played every minute in goal, and Tielemans has two assists across 79.7 percent. Together, these players form the spine of the current group.

Others have barely featured. De Ligt and Ugarte have no appearances, Baleba has two, and Zirkzee has played five times without a goal contribution. Yoro has taken 34.0 percent of minutes, a decent share for a defender, yet the headline fees of up to £58m raise high expectations.

Atlético Loss Exposed the Bench

On 13 October, Ugarte, Šeško, Dorgu, Mazraoui, Mainoo, Shaw and Heaton were all unavailable. That left seven first-team players absent, and seven of the starting eleven were Wilcox signings. The bench held two goalkeepers, ten outfield players and four academy graduates. A small rotation pool leaves little margin when injuries stack up.

Squad planning is meant to protect against exactly this sort of injury run. Lisandro Martínez said after the match that he expected more from the technical director. He later explained that he spoke from anger and frustration. The outburst came from a senior defender, which gave it extra weight.

Spending Compared With Rival Clubs

Over 2024-25 to 2026-27, United’s net spend stands at £351.1m, close to Arsenal’s £346.0m. City lead the group at £422.7m, and Liverpool follow with £394.5m. United sit in the middle of that group on spending but not on results.

The returns differ greatly, with United averaging 1.45 league points per game against Arsenal’s 2.12, City’s 2.04 and Liverpool’s 1.87. Sales have softened the bill, with Garnacho moving for £40m, Højlund for £38m, Antony for around £21.6m to £25m and Wan-Bissaka for £15m. Even so, similar spending has not delivered similar returns.

Backing From the Club Stays Quiet

The club has not replied publicly to Martínez, and there is no sign of any plan to remove Wilcox, who retains full support. Football operations run through Ratcliffe, chief executive Berrada and Wilcox.

The Premier League Man Utd Wilcox transfer record shows a gap between spending and squad depth. Fourteen signings and a net spend above £350m produced a side that lacked cover when seven players were missing. The next windows must fix the bench, or the same questions will return.

Is Wilcox the right man to rebuild United’s depth, or is the problem bigger than one executive? Let us know in the comments.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What position does Jason Wilcox hold at Old Trafford?

Wilcox is the club’s Director of Football. He joined as technical director on 19 April 2024 and took on the wider role on 4 June 2025, so he now leads recruitment.

What sparked Lisandro Martínez’s criticism of the technical director?

He criticised recruitment and squad depth after the 2-0 loss to Atlético. He said he expected more from the technical director, then explained that anger and frustration drove his comments.

How many senior players has Wilcox brought in?

The club has made 14 senior signings under Wilcox. United finished 15th in 2024-25 and third in 2025-26 during that period, a sharp improvement in league results over those seasons.

Is Wilcox under threat of dismissal?

No, there is no sign of a sacking. The club has made no official statement, and there is no confirmed plan to remove him from his current role at the club.

Who is in charge of football decisions at the club?

Ratcliffe, chief executive, Berrada, and Wilcox run football operations. Wilcox leads recruitment as Director of Football, while the other two oversee the wider structure across the club.