In March 2025, Manchester United finally confirmed after years of speculation that they are planning on building a new 100,000-seater stadium next to the current Old Trafford.
While talks of a move have long been on the agenda, the confirmation that they would not only be moving from their spiritual home, Old Trafford, but also knocking the old place down left many supporters with conflicted feelings.
While on one hand, there is a need for the club to modernise their stadium, on the other, a new build rips away a huge part of Man Utd's iconic history.
With work yet to get underway, could the plans end up not coming to fruition? For all the latest information on the project, check out the updates below.
Old Trafford redevelopment – latest news
Old Trafford project included in ‘Greater Manchester Growth Plan'
The Old Trafford Regeneration project received further backing from the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, in November 2025 when it was included in the wider Greater Manchester Growth Plan.
The project is one of the key parts of the Mayor's strategy over the next ten years as he looks to improve the economy in the region.
Burnham labelled the project as the biggest sports scheme in the United Kingdom since the Olympics in 2012 and confirmed that Lord Sebastien Coe would continue to play a big part in the project as the Chair-designate of a new Mayoral Development Corporation.
New designs are being considered
According to reports in the UK media, Manchester United are now having a rethink on their initial designs for the stadium due to the ongoing dispute with the local freightliner.
At present, the club and the freightliner are still miles apart in their valuation of the land around Old Trafford, which is causing the club to potentially scale down their initial plans for the new stadium.
The giant canopy, which was included in the concept art, is now reportedly on the chopping block as the club won't need to purchase as much land from the freight company, and will therefore be able to get construction work started sooner.
Man Utd publish record revenues
Manchester United published record revenues in the middle of September, to the tune of £666.5m in the financial year to June 2025. However, that didn't stop the club from making an overall loss of £33m, with poor performances on the pitch contributing significantly to the problems off it.
How does that impact the stadium plans? Well, if the club continues to lose money, then is could reach a point where they have to rethink on their plans, especially as the current iteration will cost over £1bn. For now, though, everything is on track and there are no rumours of a rethink.
The mayor of Manchester could force the sale of key land
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has suggested that he would be prepared to force the sale of land needed for Manchester United to complete their new stadium project.
In recent months, it has emerged that Freightliner, a rail transport company, would need to sell key pieces of land near Old Trafford to Manchester for the new stadium project to get off the ground.
Reportedly, Manchester United value the piece of land at £40m, but Freightliner are asking for £400m, which is putting the entire project in jeopardy.
To push the project through, Burnham has gone on record to say that he would use his compulsory purchase powers as mayor, if needed. The mayor said:
“The Greater Manchester Combined Authority has approved the establishment of a mayoral development corporation (MDC) to oversee a masterplan of the area to facilitate some of the land assembly.
“But there's plenty that can be done if an agreement cannot be reached. The real action is only going to get going in the autumn with the MDC.”
American-inspired changes could be on the way
Although groundwork is yet to begin, Manchester United are continuing to do work behind the scenes on their new stadium.
In July, the club invited supporters to a meeting where discussions around the new stadium were held. Members of the club's hierarchy floated ideas to the supporters present to gauge reaction, and a lot of the proposed plans have now been released via a supporter who was in the meeting.
The propositions made by the club include 15-year season tickets with a large upfront payment, a large presence of hospitality at the stadium (up to 40% of capacity), a premium season ticket model where supporters would be encouraged to pay extra to gain access to away matches and concerts, and an American-style matchday experience with merchandise stalls in the concourses.
The release of this information has caused widespread panic and anger among Man Utd's matchday support. Although none of these plans are concrete at present, many feel that this is just the first step in turning them into reality.
Key appointment made
In April 2025, Trafford Council appointed a consortium to design a strategic masterplan around the plans to revitalise Trafford Wharfside, the area that will directly surround Manchester United's new stadium once it is built.
While the local and national government have no intention of funding the stadium, they are committed to redeveloping the area around Old Trafford, and this appointment is centred on that. However, it's impossible to mention such an appointment without considering the positive impact it will have on the new stadium and fan experience.
The idea is that the regeneration of Trafford Wharfside will lead to thousands of new homes and jobs. The council have said the masterplan will focus on the waterfront opposite Media City and that nature and wildlife will be at its ‘heart'. The waterfront will be ‘celebrated' and pontoons and piers have been referenced as possible additions.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Trafford Council said:
“It will work with Trafford Council alongside Manchester United Football Club, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), a proposed Mayoral Development Corporation and other key partners to deliver a transformational and sustainable international destination for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors.
“The masterplan is aimed to be completed early next year.”
April 2025: Doubts over whether Man Utd can finance the projects
A leading football financial expert did the rounds in the UK media at the beginning of April 2025, raising his doubts over whether Manchester United will be able to raise the finances to fund such an ambitious project.
Stefan Borson told TalkSport:
“I think this is a difficult project. There are almost no stadia in the world with 100,000 seats. There is a reason why there tends to be a limit to the number of seats that people put in, and it tends to be because it's not economic to do so.
“This is a project that, on the face of it, looks very, very difficult to fund for Manchester United as we sit here today.”
The overall cost of the project is believed to be around the £2bn mark, and given that Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently claimed that the club were set to run out of all cash reserves by the end of 2025, Borson may have a valid point.
The Government have been very vocal in their support of the project (see below), but it remains highly unlikely that they would fund the entire project.
March 2025: Government backs the new stadium plans
Speaking shortly after Manchester United officially unveiled their plans for a 100,000-seater stadium, the UK government's Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, told reporters that the government is keen to crack on in supporting the plans.
While there is no chance of public funding being used to help finance the stadium, the project does go hand in hand with the government's plans to regenerate parts of the United Kingdom. Nandy said:
“Manchester United have to make their own plans and satisfy their own investors. What we have to do as a Government is maximise the benefits of projects like these for the communities that they serve.
“That’s why we are working with the Mayor of Greater Manchester and others. But we’re really confident we can do that.”
March 2025: Man Utd unveil plans for new stadium
Manchester confirmed in March 2025 that they have decided to move forward with plans for a new 100,000-seater stadium as opposed to redeveloping Old Trafford. Concept art of the new stadium was released, which made the new stadium appear to look more like a circus than a football ground, and further planning and designs will now be considered.
The club are ambitious with their plans for the stadium, not only in terms of the capacity but also in terms of timeframe. They hope to have the stadium fully built by 2030 but have conceded that it could take until 2032 at the latest. It isn't anticipated that the club will have to move while the new ground is being built.
The stadium is part of a wider government-led redevelopment project that hopes to boost the economy in South Manchester. It is estimated that the new stadium could generate £7bn each year for the UK.
Old Trafford new stadium picture
February 2025: No direct UK Government funding
The UK government has backed a regeneration project around Old Trafford in Manchester but is only financially supporting surrounding projects, not the stadium itself. This decision has faced backlash from rival fans of clubs like Everton and Newcastle, who are also either building or planning their own major development projects. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds clarified that the focus is on transport and housing improvements, not on sporting elements.
The project, in collaboration with Mayor Andy Burnham, aims to generate over £7 billion annually and create around 90,000 new jobs. However, three freight train terminals near the site pose significant expansion challenges for those involved.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds clarified the position, “We are not funding any of the sporting elements of that, but of course, the wider area, transport, housing, we want to work with local areas to deliver that with our trailblazing mayors like Andy, and this is, again, an example of the kind of big ambition this Government is willing to show to deliver on that plan for change.”
January 2025: The need for improvements becomes clearer than ever
Over the festive period, Manchester United suffered more embarrassment off the pitch in relation to the current state of Old Trafford when it was reported that mice droppings had been found on the premises.
Although none of the droppings were found in areas where food is handled, it's not a good look for a club that markets itself as the ‘biggest in the world'. The club promptly released the following statement after the news broke:
“Manchester United implements a comprehensive pest-control system throughout Old Trafford. We conduct multiple weekly checks in all catering areas and enforce strict measures to maintain high standards of hygiene and cleanliness in all food storage, preparation, and serving areas. If any incidents occur, we take immediate and appropriate action.“
It was the second time in a year that the hygiene around Old Trafford has come under fire as last Christmas the club's hygiene rating dropped from five stars to one after guests were served raw chicken in hospitality.
November 2024: Delay on final decision
A survey sent to Manchester United season ticket holders and members has revealed that 52% of the club's core fanbase would prefer a new stadium over a renovated Old Trafford. The results were published in November 2024 amid news that the club are now delaying their final decision on the project.
The future of a rail freight terminal on the land adjacent to Old Trafford is reportedly a key sticking point for members of the Man Utd board. If an agreement can be reached to move the freight terminal elsewhere, then around 100 acres of land will be freed up to build on. This would likely see the club commence with a new stadium build.
The Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force is urging the club to be bold and ambitious with their plans, regardless of which route they take. There is a feeling that the whole area could be revamped with the introduction of a world-class, modern sporting arena.
September 2024: A new strategic partnership
In September 2024, Manchester United announced that it had entered into a strategic partnership with Trafford Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) regarding the new stadium.
The strategic partnership's goal is to explore the potential opportunities for growth and regeneration in the area around Old Trafford.
An advisory team will now be appointed to help develop an ambitious plan for the area around Old Trafford. The ultimate aim is to regenerate this area and this team will look at how a new world-class stadium can aid with this potential regeneration.
Lord Sebastian Coe, the Chair of the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, said:
“The objective of this once-in-a-generation project is not only the development of a world-class stadium for the north of England, but also to ensure that this brings broad social and economic benefits to the local area and surrounding region.
“There is a huge opportunity to connect Trafford Wharfside regeneration with the ongoing growth of neighbouring Media City in Salford, and Greater Manchester’s Western Gateway and Central Growth Cluster plans, to create a project of national significance. The tripartite advisory team will help fully unlock this incredibly exciting potential.”
Stadium Task Force has its first meeting
Shortly after Ineos purchased a stake in Manchester United, they created the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force. This group analysed the surrounding area of Old Trafford and planned a regeneration plan, including the feasibility of a new stadium.
Several local leaders were appointed to the Task Force, including the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and former Man Utd player, Gary Neville. It's being led by Lord Coe, the mastermind behind the 2012 London Olympics, and the Task Force had its first meeting in April.
After the meeting, Lord Coe provided fans with the following update:
“Yesterday, I chaired the first meeting of the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force to kick off a conversation about how development of a world-class football stadium for the north of England can deliver social and economic benefits for the region.
“At the London 2012 Olympics, I saw first-hand how sport can be a powerful driver of urban regeneration and I am excited to be part of this project. This meeting marked the start of a multi-stakeholder process to explore options for the stadium and surrounding area.
“We are at the start of this journey, and it is too soon to know where it will lead. But we will consult closely with fans and local residents along the way, and keep everyone informed of progress.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants a ‘Wembley of the North'
? The regeneration project in mind:
?️ 100,000 stadium
? 92,000 jobs
? 17,000 new homes
? 1.8m visitors to the area per year.
❌ Club will not apply for public money for Old Trafford.Could cost UK economy around £7.3 BILLION per year, reports @MikeKeegan_DM. ?️??️ pic.twitter.com/6RS1dFImjG
— The United HQ (@TheUTDHQ) September 23, 2024
Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly wants to build a brand new stadium next to where Old Trafford currently sits that will rival Wembley Stadium and its 90,000 capacity. Ratcliffe is said to want United's stadium to have a “wow factor”, and while he appreciates the aura of Old Trafford and fan attachment to it, he believes building the new stadium on the same land would soften the blow of the move.
It is understood that refurbishing Old Trafford, which has, in many ways, been left to rot and fall behind the times under Glazer ownership, would cost around £1bn, whereas a brand-new, state-of-the-art stadium would cost around £1.5bn.
According to reports in the Telegraph and Daily Mail, INEOS would ask the British government to help support the build of a new stadium, but it remains to be seen whether they would even be able to pump taxpayers' money into a new football stadium.
Gary Neville: Old Trafford redevelopment will be ‘the catalyst'
As we have mentioned, Manchester United legend Gary Neville is a key part of the project's task force and he has echoed those lofty ambitions outlined by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, stating that irrespective of whether Manchester United renovate Old Trafford, or build a new site altogether, the project will be “the catalyst” for mass improvement to Manchester's infrastructure.
Speaking on the situation, Neville said: “It’s not just about a football stadium. It’s a wide body of people and we don’t want to miss any part of the opportunity around employment, education, health, jobs, infrastructure and transport. Whatever Manchester United do with the stadium will be the catalyst.”
Before also stating that “the club’s purpose and values should be to have the maximum positive impact.”
In the years that have followed Neville's retirement from football, the 49-year-old has become somewhat of a political figurehead for the city, and it appears as though he believes the redevelopment of Old Trafford is another opportunity for himself, and for Manchester United, to improve not just the future of the club, but also the lives of many of the residents in the local area.
Populous back a rebuild
In December, the Chief Executive of Populous, Chirs Lee, was interviewed by the Daily Telegraph, and he was asked about updates on the Old Trafford redevelopment project. Lee stated that he believes that the club should elect to demolish the current Old Trafford ground and rebuild a brand-new, state-of-the-art stadium in its place. He said:
“I feel the new build may well turn out to be the most cost-effective solution. Yes, the initial outlay is obviously the highest of all options but there is so much land available to develop there. They could carry on using the existing ground while building work is underway, meaning no decline in matchday revenues.
“Architecturally, in the space available you could do something really innovative and exciting. There would be no space constrictions. We’ve done the work with Legends to look at all the feasibility options, multiple different versions of renovations of Old Trafford and also what a new build could potentially look like, all of it focused on how we can create an amazing fan experience. Manchester United are very focused on that.
“The current building is reaching the end of its natural life – the cabling, the electricity supplies, everything is nearing its sell-by date. And the interiors are very cramped and difficult in places.”
During the interview, Lee also confirmed that the project had been put on hold during the club's sales process but now that INEOS have had their offer of 25% accepted, things should get moving again. As part of their 25% stake in the club, INEOS have pledged to invest $300m into the Club’s infrastructure at Old Trafford.
No public money in Old Trafford redevelopment
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has stated that public funds will not be used to renovate Old Trafford or build a new stadium. He believes that taxpayer money should only be used for developing new infrastructure such as transportation stations, apartment buildings, and shopping centres for a new neighbourhood.
Burnham sees the development of Old Trafford or the construction of a new stadium near the current one as a great opportunity to enhance the rail network in the area. He said: “What you have here is a huge potential to fix the rail system of the northwest of England.”
Foster's architectural firm has been commissioned to create a development plan for Manchester United's land around Old Trafford, in light of these aspirations.
During a Labour conference in Liverpool, the Mayor of Greater Manchester was joined by former Manchester United player Gary Neville. Neville expressed that he was not concerned about whether Manchester United chose to redevelop Old Trafford or build a new stadium, but he was enthusiastic about the prospect of having a world-class venue.
“The most important thing is that Manchester United ends up with a world-class stadium,” adding that “If you think about the Bernabeu, which has been refurbished, it's amazing. If you think about Tottenham and what they have done with a brand new building, it's amazing.”
Neville is a task force member responsible for evaluating Old Trafford's future.
FGG says: A new home for Man United
While progress is expected to be slow on the project, it's a huge step forward for the club. While the majority owners, the Glazer family, have never shown any interest in pushing forward stadium renovation at Old Trafford, the club's new minority owner, INEOS, have clearly made it a priority.
Many ways still need convincing that a move away from Old Trafford is a good thing but if the quality of football on the pitch can continue in the coming years, then more trust will be given to INEOS on all projects, including the new stadium.