Manchester United are this week embarking on a short tour of Asia to play two friendly matches and conduct some commercial engagements.
The trip has been criticised for its timing given it comes straight after the end of the Premier League season, but given the club’s need to improve its financial picture, there is a clear reason for it to be taking place.
It also presents an opportunity to strengthen the Red Devils’ connection with their huge fan base in this part of the world at a time when head coach Ruben Amorim and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe are attempting to restore them as a major force on the pitch once more.
Here are the key details for the postseason trip, including the travelling squad, the match schedule, and how much money they could generate by going.
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Man United Asia tour 2025: Why are they going?
It might seem odd for United to embark on a short post-season tour immediately after the end of their season, but it’s not unheard of for clubs to do this. Only last year, Newcastle United and Tottenham embarked on mini tours in Australia in the week after the 2023/24 Premier League season finished.
Generally, the simple reason clubs do this is money: the commercial opportunities for such visits to different continents are ample. There is also the chance for fans to watch their teams play and, occasionally, to meet with some of the players. Given many of these supporters rarely get to do this, these tours help to strengthen a team’s support base and, in a purely business sense, strengthen the status of the brand.
Players may not like the idea of travelling on such a tour at the end of a gruelling season, especially when the campaign has been as awful as United’s, but it is a relatively short commitment before they then either head off to join up with their national teams for the June window or begin their vacations.
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Man United travelling squad for 2025 Asia tour
Head coach Amorim is taking a strong squad for the games this week, with a mixture of senior stars and academy prospects in the 32-player group.
Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui and Leny Yoro are sitting out the tour due to injuries, but Andre Onana and Alejandro Garnacho will be involved despite speculation that they will be sold in the coming weeks.
Goalkeepers: Andre Onana, Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton.
Defenders: Harry Amass, Dan Armer, Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu, Jonny Evans, Tyler Fredricson, Ayden Heaven, Jaydan Kamason, Godwill Kukonki, Harry Maguire, Reece Munro, Luke Shaw.
Midfielders: Casemiro, Toby Collyer, Bruno Fernandes, Tyler Fletcher, Sekou Kone, Kobbie Mainoo, Jack Moorhouse, Mason Mount, Jim Thwaites, Manuel Ugarte.
Forwards: Alejandro Garnacho, Amad, Rasmus Hojlund, Shea Lacey, Chido Obi, Joshua Zirkzee.
Man United Asia tour 2025 match schedule
United will play two games this week, one in Malaysia and one in Hong Kong.
May 28:
- Match: Man United vs. ASEAN All Stars
- Kickoff Time: 8:45 p.m. local (1:45 p.m. BST / 8:45 a.m. ET)
- Venue: Bukit Jalil National Stadium (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
May 30:
- Match: Man United vs. Hong Kong, China
- Kickoff Time: 8:00 p.m. local (1:00 p.m. BST / 8:00 a.m. ET)
- Venue: Hong Kong Stadium (Hong Kong)
One of Man United’s sponsors, Apollo Tyres, is also expected to stage a meet-and-greet with Andre Onana, Harry Maguire, and Diogo Dalot in Mumbai, India on May 29.
Maguire himself said United’s players had no right to criticise the trip given they just endured their worst season in the Premier League era.
“It is the club’s decision and we don’t have any right to argue against it after the performances we have put on,” he said. “As players, we have to take responsibility for the position in the Premier League and the money we have generated this season through that finish, which is nowhere near good enough.
“We don’t have a right to stand here and criticise the club for trying to generate some money that will hopefully help us next season with signings.”
How much money will Man United make for Asia tour?
It is unclear exactly how much money United will generate directly from the trip, but BBC Sport said they will make around $10 million (£7.8m).
That’s about half the $22.9m (£16.9m) United earned as a result of finishing 15th in the Premier League table, so it is a not-insignificant sum of money for the sake of a week’s extra travel.
