Nam Dinh FC’s players are valued at 11.4 million USD, 2.7 times more than Grimsby Town. Five other V-League teams also surpass the English fourth-tier club in value: Cong An Ha Noi (7.9 million USD), Ha Noi FC (6.8 million USD), Cong An TP HCM (6.2 million USD), The Cong (4.8 million USD), and Ninh Binh (4.4 million USD).
The average value of the 14 V-League clubs is 4.6 million USD, also higher than Grimsby Town. Yet, Grimsby drew 2-2 with Man Utd and then won 12-11 on penalties in the second round of the League Cup on the evening of 27/8/2025.
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Grimsby Town players and fans celebrate after defeating Man Utd in the second round of the League Cup at Blundell Park, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, UK on the evening of 27/8/2025. Photo: PA |
Grimsby Town players and fans celebrate after defeating Man Utd in the second round of the League Cup at Blundell Park, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, UK on the evening of 27/8/2025. Photo: PA
This is the first time Man Utd has been eliminated by a fourth-tier team in this competition. Man Utd’s players are valued at 1.03 billion USD, a staggering 245 times more than Grimsby. Man Utd’s payroll is also at 174 million USD, 58 times higher than their opponent.
According to the Opta Power Rankings, Man Utd is ranked 28th in the world, while Grimsby is 1,304th, lower than Nam Dinh (996th), Cong An Ha Noi (1,018th), and Ha Noi FC (1,268th).
Grimsby Town is currently fourth in EFL League Two. Man Utd is 16th in the Premier League. This means the two teams are separated by 55 places in the English football pyramid.
Goalkeeper Christy Pym is Grimsby’s most valuable player at 408,000 USD. Meanwhile, the lowest-valued Man Utd player in the match was 20-year-old center-back Tyler Fredricson, valued at 3.5 million USD.
During the penalty shootout, Grimsby manager David Artell frequently joked and chatted with his substitutes. His counterpart, Ruben Amorim, sat in the technical area with his head bowed and hands clasped, never looking up to watch his players shoot.
Grimsby Town was founded in 1878, the same year as Man Utd. However, the last time they played in the top flight of English football was 77 years ago. Meanwhile, Man Utd boasts a rich history with 20 English league titles. Grimsby has never won a major trophy.
Thousands of Grimsby fans poured onto the Blundell Park pitch after Bryan Mbeumo’s final penalty miss. The home side celebrated while the visitors reeled from the shock. Man Utd’s League Cup exit comes as other major clubs like Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Newcastle have yet to play in the competition.
Compiled by Hoang An
