DONE DEAL: Manchester United finally agreed deal to sign the sporting director Dan Ashworth to Old Trafford

Newcastle United and Man United have finally agreed on a compensation deal that will allow Dan Ashworth to join United as their new sporting director.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s biggest transfer saga since he bought a small share of Manchester United is finally over.

Early Monday morning, it was announced that United and Newcastle had agreed on how to pay Dan Ashworth. The North East club put the former Brighton and Hove Albion and England FA head on gardening leave in the middle of February after he said he wanted to move to Old Trafford.

Newcastle, as expected, put a high price on the sporting director to keep him from moving before the end of his gardening leave in 2026. For Eddie Howe’s club to let his deal end early, they may have wanted £15 million plus £5 million in add-ons.

Ineos didn’t want to agree to this, and it looked like there would be no end to the standoff until Monday morning, when news of a deal broke the ice. Before he got there, MEN Sport looked at what experts about United and Ashworth have said about the 53-year-old in the past.

Gary Neville
After a trip to St. James’ Park last season, the former United captain had good things to say about Ashworth. Neville wrote on X: “He [Ashworth] changed the structure of the FA, set Brighton up for this amazing run of success, and has now made a strong base for the new owners at Newcastle.”

“He’s skilled, highly qualified, and knows what he’s doing.” He will be calm and consistent as he works with his coach, the recruitment team, and other areas.

I am Sir Jim Ratcliffe

In April, when United and Newcastle were still deadlocked, Ratcliffe had good things to say about the Newcastle manager. “I think Dan Ashworth is clearly one of the top sporting directors in the world, I’ve no doubt,” he said.

“He is a very strong person. His desire to lead Manchester United is based on the fact that it is likely the most important and difficult job for a sports director ever.

“It’s clear that we spoke with Newcastle.” It’s clear that they would be sad to lose Dan.

Dear Sir Dave Brailsford
It is thought that both men have a lot of respect for each other. In 2022, the Newcastle player asked the Ineos director to the Magpies’ training camp to share his ideas and talk about the theory of “marginal gains.”

A person close to Brailsford told the i newspaper in December that Ashworth was his “dream hire” and that he would do “everything he could” to get him to United.

Hedd Howe
The manager of Newcastle has worked with Ashworth to rebuild the team in the North East and has nothing but good things to say about him in press appearances. Howe said, “I now have Dan’s experience, which has been very helpful. He has made a big difference in the club in such a short time.”

However, he is not only looking at hiring people; he is looking at the whole club, from the top to the bottom, using his knowledge to try and make things better. He has been very helpful with transfers, and I can’t say enough good things about him. He has great friends in the game.

Bruce Graham
The former manager of Chelsea has been linked with United before, and he worked closely with Ashworth at Brighton. He also said, “His job was to connect the club.”

The goal was to use the school, the recruitment department, analysis, and, let’s say, all the different parts of the club to make a good whole. From the point of view of the head teacher, he was there to help with anything and to boost morale when necessary. He was there for that all the time. He was smart and very good at what he did. Very good at what he does.