Mason Greenwood’s image rights company goes into liquidation following striker's suspension from Man Utd and move to Getafe

As shown in its latest filing through Companies House, TSM Sports, the firm Greenwood set up in 2019 with his father and then became a sole director the following year, has entered voluntary liquidation after accounts included a £600,000 drop in its cash in the bank, having previously peaked at just over £1 million ($1.3m). Football finances expert and author Kieran Maguire told The Times the likely reason is either the company subsequently made a big loss or money was taken out to pay Greenwood, its only employee/director, in the form of either wages or dividends. Footballers will often use companies to be paid a portion of their wages as image rights in order to be "tax efficient".

Maguire said: "The company either lost a lot of money in 2023 or a lot was taken out in wages for its one employee and/or dividends, as the cash balance fell by £600,000. A similar decrease since the company's year end in September would have left little and may explain why it has gone into voluntary liquidation."

Greenwood was suspended by Manchester United following his arrest in January 2022, after which he was eventually charged with assault, attempted rape and coercive behaviour. Those charges were eventually dropped after the withdrawal of key witnesses led to diminished chances of a conviction. Greenwood was dropped by Nike as a result of his arrest and the charges, and it stands to reason that image rights income has dried up, with new sponsors unlikely to touch him either.

The summer transfer window will determine what kind of future career Greenwood is going to have, and at what level. From a purely footballing point of view, he has impressed at Getafe with his numbers in La Liga. But there is unlikely to be any scenario that won't incur significant off-field backlash, particularly if a high-profile club - Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have each been linked - shows interest in signing him. Sir Jim Ratcliffe hasn't closed the door on a return to Old Trafford, but that would only be a possibility on the previso of "would we be comfortable with it and would the fans be comfortable with it?"