Manchester United have announced that they will begin work on a £50million redevelopment of their Carrington training ground next week.
The renovation work on the men’s first team building is expected to last for the duration of the 2024-25 season, with temporary modifications made to the site to allow players to continue training at the facility.
United have appointed Foster + Partners to lead the project. The Manchester-based architectural firm were responsible for the design of the new Wembley Stadium and the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, which hosted the 2022 World Cup final.
Work will be carried out on the gym, medical, nutrition and recovery facilities, and follows the £10million redevelopment of the women’s and academy building last summer.
The plans have been pushed forward by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United’s new minority owner, who conceded that the standard of the club’s training facilities were lacking in comparison to Premier League rivals.
“We want to create a world class environment for our teams to win. When we conducted a thorough review of the Carrington training facilities and met with our men’s first team players, it was clear the standards had fallen below some of our peers,” Ratcliffe said.
“This project will ensure Manchester United’s training ground is once more renovated to the highest standards.”
Carrington’s proposed team dining and lounge area (Manchester United and Foster + Partners)
Architect Lord Norman Foster, founder and executive chairman of Foster + Partners, said: “We are delighted to lead the renewal of Manchester United’s training facility in Carrington.
“As a proud Mancunian, it is a particular honour for me to see Foster + Partners given this responsibility and we will ensure that our design captures the spirit of industry, grit and ambition that exemplifies both Manchester and Manchester United.”
United’s training ground has previously been criticised for lagging behind state-of-the-art facilities at other clubs, most notably when Cristiano Ronaldo described Carrington as “stopped in time” before leaving the club in 2022.
“Nothing changed, surprisingly,” Ronaldo said, comparing the facility to his first spell at the club before leaving for Real Madrid in 2009.
“Not only the pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym. Even the kitchen, the chefs, whom I appreciate – lovely people. They stopped in time. It surprised me a lot.”
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(Matt McNulty/Getty Images)