Gary Neville has revealed just how small his first Manchester United contract was under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The legendary right back joined the Red Devils as an apprentice after leaving school at the age of 16, and went on to make 602 senior appearances – the fifth-most in club history.
Neville made his first team debut in September 1992, before his disciplined, gritty professionalism earned him the role of United’s starting right back by the 1994-95 season. And the rest was history.
But prior to this, Neville, like every academy star earning their call-up to the big leagues, had to pen a humble first professional contract.
The pundit explained that he and eight other players were given the same small deal when they first signed.
‘At Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson gave us all the same [first professional] contract. It was all the same,’ Neville said, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
Gary Neville revealed he earned just £210 per week from his first Manchester United contract
He and eight other academy graduates were given a Honda Prelude and a £4000 signing bonus
Neville made 602 senior appearances over 19 years for United – the fifth-most in club history
‘He gave us a £4000 signing on fee, £210 a week year one, £230 a week year two, £250 a week year three, and £270 a week year four.’
Adjusted for inflation, Neville’s contract would see him earn £460 per week in 2025, while his signing bonus would amount to £8800 in today’s money, as per Bank of England.
Neville added: ‘We all got a Honda Prelude, and all got the same contract – there was eight of us.’
Neville went on to explain that he wisely used his first contract to get on the property ladder. His first property ran him £160,000, for which he had to cough up a 10 per cent deposit.
A £160,000 house in 1992 would be worth around £352,000 today. Of course, adjusting for general inflation is one thing. But the average UK house price in 1992 was about £53,000, while today it is approximately £300,000.
Adjusting the price of Neville’s 1992 house compared to today’s housing market would roughly estimate its value to be around £900,000 in 2025.
‘Your own house is the best investment [you could make],’ Neville continued.
‘When I got money with my first contract at [Manchester] United, I bought a house. That was a massive thing – it was a house which cost £160,000 and I put down £16,000 as a deposit, and at the time I was taking a big risk.’
