Sir Jim Ratcliffe's $300m Man Utd investment nears after another milestone passed

The FA has approved Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s purchase of a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United, following in the footsteps of Premier League approval earlier in the week.

Both decisions take him one step closer to becoming a shareholder in the club. Ratcliffe agreed a deal to purchase just over a 25 percent stake in United on Boxing Day, with the league since working to ratify his arrangements with the Glazers. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Premier League announced Ratcliffe has now passed the Owners’ and Directors’ Test, the biggest step taken since that December deal was struck.

"Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of 25 per cent of Manchester United FC, and further investment of $300 million in the club, has been approved by the Premier League Board, following the completion of the Owners’ and Directors’ Test (OADT).

"The Board agreed to the change of the club’s ownership structure last week, and this has now been officially ratified by an Independent Oversight Panel.

"The Premier League’s Owners’ Charter has also been signed. This is the first acquisition of Control to be reviewed and approved by a new Independent Oversight Panel following changes to the process which were agreed by Premier League clubs in March 2023. The Premier League now awaits confirmation of the transaction’s completion."

Confirmation the Premier League had given its backing was contained within an update to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday. FA approval confirmation followed on Wednesday.

Now the FA has approved the new ownership model, for the deal to now be complete, Ratcliffe has to officially purchase 25 percent of the club's Class A shares.

As reported by Manchester World, Ratcliffe has wasted no time in making an impact at United and, despite his status as a new co-owner not yet confirmed, he has already met with key figures at the club, including the players, manager, staff, fan groups and local politicians. He also played a significant role in the decision to appoint Omar Berrada as the club's new CEO.