KUALA LUMPUR — Is Manchester United about to get a new home? The club has unveiled ambitious plans to construct a £2 billion (RM11.41 billion), 100,000-seater stadium near Old Trafford, a move that would make it the largest football ground in the UK.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has described the project as an opportunity to create “the world’s greatest football stadium,” with hopes that it will be completed within five years.
The decision follows an extensive consultation on whether to renovate Old Trafford or build a brand-new venue.
Old Trafford has been Manchester United’s home since 1910, but criticism of the ageing ground has mounted in recent years.
Issues such as leaks from the roof of the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand and the lack of significant upgrades since 2006 have raised concerns about its suitability for a modern football powerhouse.
The new stadium will be designed by Foster and Partners, the architects behind Wembley Stadium and Qatar’s Lusail Stadium.
Plans include an umbrella-style design, a public plaza twice the size of Trafalgar Square, and three towering masts known as “the trident,” which will stand 200 metres high and be visible from 25 miles away.
Despite United’s current debt of £1 billion, the club has not yet revealed how it intends to finance the project.
However, the stadium forms part of a larger regeneration scheme in the Old Trafford area, set to be the most significant urban renewal project in the UK since London’s Stratford redevelopment ahead of the 2012 Olympics. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has already backed the plans.
United claim the initiative could generate 92,000 jobs, facilitate the construction of 17,000 new homes, and attract an extra 1.8 million visitors to the area annually.
They estimate it will add £7.3 billion per year to the UK economy.
“Today marks the start of an incredibly exciting journey towards delivering what will be the world’s greatest stadium,” said Ratcliffe, according to BBC.
“Old Trafford has served us brilliantly for 115 years, but it has fallen behind the world’s top sporting arenas. I think we may well finish up with the most iconic football stadium in the world.”
The stadium will be built using pre-fabricated components, shipped in 160 sections via the nearby Manchester Ship Canal.
United consulted experts involved in large-scale stadium projects, including the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and Real Madrid’s revamped Santiago Bernabéu, to help shape their vision. They also surveyed fans and local residents, finding a preference for a new stadium over a £1.5 billion overhaul of Old Trafford.
The club has not yet decided what to do with the existing ground, but senior sources have suggested it would not be cost-effective to repurpose it for United’s women’s and youth teams.
Former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has endorsed the move, acknowledging the emotional weight of leaving Old Trafford but stressing the need for progress.
“Manchester United should always strive for the best in everything it does, on and off the pitch,” he said.
“Old Trafford holds so many memories for me personally, but we must be brave and seize this opportunity to build a new home, fit for the future, where history can be made.”
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham also welcomed the plans, highlighting the potential economic and social benefits.
“If we get this right, the regeneration impact could be bigger and better than London 2012,” he said.
“Manchester United could, and indeed should, have the best football stadium in the world—one that stays true to the club’s traditions and remains accessible to all fans.” — March 11, 2025