Manchester United have undergone a significant transformation since Sir Jim Ratcliffe began reshaping the club’s football operations.

The changes have affected recruitment and the way decisions are made across the men’s and women’s teams.

One of the biggest shifts came in 2024, when a long-serving figure at Old Trafford departed as INEOS prepared to introduce a different leadership structure.

Since then, United have continued building a new hierarchy.

Those changes have also created fresh opportunities for executives who previously held influential positions at the club.

Now, one former United decision-maker is returning to English football with an ambitious project of his own.

Birmingham City officially hire former Manchester United man as director of football

Former Manchester United football director John Murtough has been appointed Birmingham City’s new director of football, as the club announced on their website, marking his return to English football after working with Italian side Atalanta.

John Murtough spent more than a decade at United after joining in 2013, initially working in football development before becoming the club’s first football director in March 2021.

His responsibilities covered recruitment, the academy, player development, performance operations and women’s football.

During his time in the position, Murtough helped oversee the appointment of Erik ten Hag in 2022 and was involved in a period of major transfer activity.

United brought in high-profile names including Casemiro, Antony, Andre Onana, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho during that broader period, although the results of the club’s recruitment strategy attracted considerable scrutiny.

His departure was confirmed in April 2024 as INEOS began restructuring the club’s football leadership, while the incoming leadership structure eventually placed Jason Wilcox in the director of football role.

Wilcox remains the current director of football at Old Trafford, working alongside chief executive Omar Berrada.

After leaving United, Murtough moved to Atalanta in April 2025 as director of global development, taking on his first professional role in Italian football.

Murtough said: “I am incredibly excited to be joining Birmingham City. This is a great football club with brilliant fans and enormous potential.

“There is a clear determination from Knighthead to build something special for the long term, both on and off the pitch.

“My focus will be on working closely with Chris and the wider football team to give them the best possible platform to succeed, while continuing to strengthen recruitment, player development and the pathway from the Academy.

“There is a hugely talented team in place and real momentum around the Club. I am looking forward to playing my part in what comes next.”