Since the summer of 2022 Manchester United have splashed out roughly £219.7 million on eight new defenders, yet the quartet that may line up for the first match of the 2026 season could be the same four players who started the opening day four years earlier. On 7 August 2022 Erik ten Hag handed a debut to Lisandro Martínez, the summer signing who cost £56.7 million, alongside Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot. United fell 2-1 to Brighton, and despite a revolving door of personnel in the years that followed, Michael Carrick has often reverted to that same back four in six of his 17 Premier League games so far in 2026. The upcoming clash with Hull City may see the pattern repeat.
The four defenders have been a constant presence, but consistency has been elusive. Over the past four seasons they have only taken the field together ten times, with six of those appearances coming under Carrick’s stewardship. Their early partnership was rocky – a 4-0 loss to Brentford highlighted the lack of cohesion – and they did not feature together again until a 1-0 victory over West Ham on 30 October 2022. Throughout that period the squad has been peppered with other names.
Tyrell Malacia, who arrived in the summer of 2022, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelöf were rotated in and out, often sharing the defence with Martínez, Maguire, Shaw and Dalot. Maguire, in particular, spent the early part of the 2022/23 campaign on the bench and missed a month due to a hamstring problem. Both Martínez and Dalot also suffered injury spells, although Dalot’s record has been relatively benign compared with his teammates.
Martínez’s misfortune has been more severe. The Argentine centre‑back missed the first half of the 2023/24 season with a foot injury, then suffered a torn ACL in February 2025.
He only returned to action in November after a nine‑month rehabilitation. Shaw’s situation has been similarly patchy; between the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons he managed just 27 appearances across all competitions, his playing time repeatedly interrupted by a variety of niggles. The summer of 2024 saw further upheaval.
Varane and Aaron Wan‑Bissaka departed, while three new faces – Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt – were signed, followed by two more in January 2025, Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu. Despite the influx, a stable back four never materialised, a problem that was compounded by a mid‑season managerial change.
Ten Hag left in October 2024 and was succeeded by Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim, who lasted only 14 months and never fielded the Martínez‑Maguire‑Shaw‑Dalot combination. Amorim was a vocal advocate of a 3‑4‑3 system and resisted switching to a back four even when results faltered. In December 2025 he finally abandoned the three‑centre‑back set‑up, deploying a four‑man defence against Newcastle and securing a clean sheet – the first such result since early October.
Yet his tenure ended barely two weeks later, and Carrick was reinstated as interim manager. Carrick’s first game in charge saw him revert to Martínez, Maguire, Shaw and Dalot, a line that helped United beat city rivals Manchester City 2‑0.
He stuck with that arrangement for five more matches, during which United remained unbeaten (five wins, one draw). The defensive unit, however, kept only two clean sheets and three of the victories were narrow 3‑2 results, underscoring lingering vulnerabilities. De Ligt’s long‑term back injury, which has kept him out since November 2025, further narrows Carrick’s options. Although the Dutch centre‑back returned to first‑team training this week, he has not been available for selection.
Meanwhile, there have been no major defensive signings since Dorgu arrived 18 months ago. Malacia left this summer, Lindelöf and Jonny Evans departed the previous year, and the squad’s depth at left‑back remains thin. Carrick’s tactical blueprint since taking over has emphasized a compact defensive shape, with the back line sitting just inside the own penalty area. This structure delivered solidity in several big wins, but pre‑season fixtures have hinted at a shift.
United have begun to press higher, attempting to win the ball back quickly after losing possession. The experiment against Amorim’s Milan side exposed a potential flaw: a high line left space for a swift counter‑attack, resulting in a fourth‑minute goal that slipped through a loosely organised defence. The need for a reliable left‑back has become more urgent.
Shaw, now over 30, will likely need rotation to cope with the increased fixture load that comes with European competition. Supporters have expressed interest in seeing Dorgu deployed in that role, but he has predominantly featured as a left winger under Carrick. Introducing him at left‑back could add the pace and recovery ability United require when the high‑press system leaves gaps.
Age is another factor to consider. Maguire and Shaw are both in their early thirties, while Martínez and Dalot are 28 and 27 respectively – still within their prime years but perhaps less adaptable to yet another tactical overhaul. The question remains whether this core can continue to meet the physical and tactical demands of a modern, high‑pressing United side.
In summary, despite a flurry of transfers, managerial changes and tactical experiments, Manchester United’s defensive core has remained remarkably unchanged. The Martínez‑Maguire‑Shaw‑Dalot quartet still offers a viable option for Carrick, but the lack of depth, recurring injuries and the evolving style of play mean the club may soon need to reinforce the back line if it hopes to compete on multiple fronts.