Who is Matt Judge? Manchester United transfer negotiator in profile

With the transfer window open Manchester United continue to be linked with hundreds of different players from all across the world.

But how does recruitment work at Old Trafford? And how much involvement does Ed Woodward really have in getting deals over the line?

United's executive vice-chairman has become the club's figure-head in the post-Ferguson era but the former investment banker has delegated the negotiating of transfers and contracts to Matt Judge, the club's head of corporate development, since 2016.

Unlike Woodward, the Glazer family's point of contact at United, Judge keeps an extremely low profile for the position he holds at Old Trafford. Like Woodward, he divides his time between United's Mayfair office, in London, and the club's training complex and it is normal for him to be spotted there a couple of times a week.

Here, MEN Sport examine what is known about him.

Judge joined the club in 2012 and has been involved in transfer and contract negotiations since 2016. Judge obtained a masters degree in economics and finance at Bristol University - Woodward went to the same university - and pursued a 13-year career in investment banking before joining United.

How Judge describes himself

This quote is from the biography on Judge's LinkedIn page: "Managing Manchester United's equity and debt capital structure – three equity offerings incl the IPO, totalling over $450m; and three debt refinancings ($1bn+) – debt private placement, term-loan and RCF. Also player negotiations (transfers and playing contracts)."

Where Judge sits in United's hierarchical structure

Judge is widely seen as the right-hand man to Woodward and is assisted by John Murtough, United's head of football development, who previously held the position of head of elite performance at the Premier League.

Judge is heavily involved in United's recruitment, with the club's global network of 52 scouts headed up by Marcel Bout and Mick Court.

Judge is understood to be the man who sounds out agents and whether players want to come and often the point of contact representing both United players in negotiations over new deals, and players in whom United hold an interest.

What Jose Mourinho said about Matt Judge

"I know my people is doing everything they can," Mourinho said. "The owners with the green light, Mr Woodward working hard with Matt Judge and everybody is giving everything they can and I think they are going to be successful."

The transfers Judge has overseen at Old Trafford to date

Eric Bailly (£30 million from Villarreal, June 2016)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (free from Paris Saint-Germain, July 2016)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan (£26 million from Borussia Dortmund, July 2016)

Paul Pogba (£89 milliion frokm Juventus, August 2016)

Victor Lindelof (£30 million from Benfica, July 2017)

Romelu Lukaku (£75 million from Everton, July 2017)

Nemanja Matic (£40 million from Chelsea, July 2017)

Alexis Sanchez (swap deal with Arsenal involving Mkhitaryan, January 2018)

Diogo Dalot (£17.4 million from Porto, July 2018)

Fred (£52 million from Porto, July 2018)

Lee Grant (£1.5 million from Stoke, July 2018)

Daniel James (£17 million from Swansea, July 2019)

Aaron Wan-Bissaka ( £45mllion from Crustal Palace, July 2019)

Harry Maguire ( £80million from Leicester, August 2019)