Manuel Ugarte waited nearly six months and a reported £42 million transfer fee to find the back of the net for Manchester United. When he finally did, he made sure nobody would forget it.
The Uruguayan midfielder unleashed a long-range volley from outside the box in the 80th minute against Everton on February 22, 2025, completing a comeback from 2-0 down to salvage a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park. Solana-based meme tokens bearing Ugarte’s name popped up almost immediately. Tokens named MU and UGARTE emerged on-chain, riding the wave of attention surrounding the player’s viral moment.
From PSG to Old Trafford to the blockchain
Ugarte arrived at Manchester United from Paris Saint-Germain on August 30, 2024. The deal was structured at an initial £42 million, with add-ons potentially pushing the total to £50.5 million.
Manchester United signed a training kit sponsorship deal with Tezos in February 2022, valued at over £20 million annually. That partnership has positioned United as one of the more crypto-forward clubs in global football, with fan engagement initiatives built around blockchain technology.
