![British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe's offer for a 25 per cent stake in Man Utd has been approved. (AP PHOTO) British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe's offer for a 25 per cent stake in Man Utd has been approved. (AP PHOTO)](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/ab5a274e-996c-498d-a1f6-e5ff3347b4a7.jpg/r0_0_800_600_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe has completed his purchase of a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United.
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The deal had already been approved by the English Football Association, while the Premier League has also cleared Ratcliffe to take up a minority share.
The 71-year-old Ratcliffe paid $US1.3 billion ($A2 billion) for "up to 25 per cent" of the club and will invest a further $US300 million ($A458 million) for "future investment into Old Trafford", United have said.
Ratcliffe is one of Britain's richest people and the owner of petrochemicals giant Ineos.
He agreed to a deal to buy a stake in United in December after the Glazer family, which owns the club, put the 20-times domestic champions up for sale in 2022.
The Glazers, who also own NFL side the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, opted to sell a minority stake of United after also fielding bids from Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.
"To become co-owner of Manchester United is a great honour and comes with great responsibility," Ratcliffe said in a statement.
"This marks the completion of the transaction, but just the beginning of our journey to take Manchester United back to the top of English, European and world football, with world-class facilities for our fans.
"Work to achieve those objectives will accelerate from today."
Ratcliffe, who was born in Failsworth in Greater Manchester in October 1952 and says he was "around 10" when he first went to a United match, has been a frequent visitor to Old Trafford as Ineos prepares to take responsibility for footballing operations at United.
"I would like to welcome Sir Jim as co-owner and look forward to working closely with him and Ineos Sport to deliver a bright future for Manchester United," the club's co-chairman Joel Glazer said.
- with PA
Australian Associated Press