Former player launches £1M lawsuit against Manchester United

Manchester United are the subject of a £1 million lawsuit from a former player, alleging that the club’s failure to treat an injury left him with long-term problems.

Former United defender Axel Tuanzebe claims that he is no longer able to play “without restriction or impediment” due to a back injury sustained during his time with the team. After 17 years with united, Tuanzebe left in 2023 to join Ipswich Town.

Tuanzebe, now 27, suffered from stress fractures at the back of his spine. The lawsuit alleges that in January 2020 the club failed to properly identify a left-sided pars fracture, which became chronic by July 2022.

The lawsuit claims that an MRI scan in early 2020 should have flagged spinal stress fractures in the lower back but the club failed to fully investigate it. Tuanzebe was not referred to a sports spinal specialist, who would apparently have advised at least 12 weeks of rest to allow it to heal. Instead, Tuanzebe was reintegrated into the team less than two months later.

The lawsuit reads: “Appropriate treatment plans would, on the balance of probabilities, have resulted in the claimant avoiding the pain and discomfort set out below and would have resulted in him being able to play professional football at elite level without restriction or impediment.

“As it is, although he continues to play at an elite level, this has impacted his career and earnings.”

After leaving Old Trafford Tuanzebe spent two years with Ipswich before signing with Burnley for the 2025/26 season. He has made five Premier league appearances for Burnley so far.