Former Manchester United and England defender Wes Brown has been declared bankrupt, according to reports. The Mirror has claimed that HMRC filed a bankruptcy petition against Brown in February which was signed off at the High Court on April 12.

The news of Brown’s bankruptcy has come as a surprise to many as he reportedly earned up to £50,000 a week during his time at Old Trafford, where he spent 15 years after progressing through the youth ranks.

Brown was a versatile defender who also had spells at Sunderland and Blackburn before retiring at Kerala Blasters.

Brown, who is now 43 years old, won 23 England caps between 1999-2010. Last year, he split from his wife, Leanne Brown, who is famous for appearing on the reality show “Real Housewives of Cheshire”.

The couple had been married for 20 years and now share custody of their three children.

The Browns’ financial situation has been a topic of conversation before. A few years ago, Leanne spoke about their financial situation, saying that although they had a lovely life and money was great, they were living in a bubble.

She also commented on the downsides of fame, saying that although fans can be amazing, they can also be very cruel.

Brown once had a property in Prestbury, Cheshire up for sale priced at £4.5 million. The news of his bankruptcy has come as a shock to many, especially considering his successful career in football. It is unclear what led to Brown’s financial troubles and how he plans to move forward after this setback.