Alexis Sanchez shirt sales help set new Manchester United record

Sales of shirts in the first month of the year ended at 'three times the previous best,' with many of those featuring the Chilean’s name and No 7 jersey on the back

Alexis Sanchez signed for Manchester United last month (Getty)

The signing of Alexis Sanchez set a huge new record for Manchester United shirt sales in January, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has revealed in a conference call to discuss the club’s half-year results.

Sales of shirts in the first month of the year ended at “three times the previous best,” with many of those featuring the Chilean’s name and No 7 jersey on the back.

Reflecting the nature of modern transfers and how clubs assess their performance, Woodward also told investors that Sanchez’s signing led to the club’s most shared post on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

It was also revealed that the move brought 75 per cent more online interactions than Neymar’s world-record move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Woodward had already spoken of how the signing of Sanchez reflected the club’s robust financial outlook.