Manchester United have announced plans to construct a new £2 billion (S$3.44 billion) stadium next to Old Trafford, with a vision of creating the “world’s greatest football stadium.”
The 100,000-seat venue will be the largest in Britain and a key part of a regeneration project for the area.
United’s co-owner, Jim Ratcliffe, confirmed the ambitious project on March 11, calling it an “incredibly exciting journey” to transform Old Trafford into a world-class destination. Since becoming a minority owner in late 2023, the British billionaire has been vocal about his desire to develop a cutting-edge stadium, describing it as the "Wembley of the North."
A bold vision for Old Trafford
The club had been weighing the option of refurbishing its historic home, which has been in use since 1910, or building a brand-new facility. Ultimately, United chose the latter, appointing Foster + Partners in September to lead the masterplan for the redevelopment of the Old Trafford area.
At an event in London on March 11, the club unveiled the architectural designs, which feature a striking umbrella structure covering the stadium.
“This is one of the most exciting projects in the world today,” said Norman Foster, executive chairman of Foster + Partners. “The design prioritizes the fan experience, bringing them closer to the action and enhancing the stadium’s acoustics for an electric atmosphere. The vast umbrella will also collect energy and rainwater while sheltering a new public plaza, which will be twice the size of Trafalgar Square.”
The project has received government backing from British Chancellor Rachel Reeves and is expected to create around 92,000 jobs. It will also include the construction of 17,000 homes and is projected to contribute an additional £7.3 billion annually to the UK economy.
Addressing Old Trafford’s decline
Old Trafford, the largest club stadium in England with a 74,000-seat capacity, has not undergone major renovations since 2006. It has faced increasing criticism in recent years due to maintenance issues, including a leaking roof and reports of rodent infestations.
The announcement of the new stadium came just a day after Ratcliffe made scathing remarks about Manchester United’s struggling squad.
Ratcliffe criticizes United’s squad and past decisions
In an explosive interview with the BBC on March 10, Ratcliffe labeled several of United’s star players as “not good enough” and “probably overpaid.” He specifically named Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana, Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, and Antony as sources of frustration.
Sancho and Antony, both on loan at Chelsea and Real Betis respectively, have failed to make an impact at United. Ratcliffe also highlighted ongoing payments for past transfers as a burden on the club’s finances.
“These are all inherited issues—whether we like it or not, we have to deal with them,” he said. “For instance, we’re still paying part of Sancho’s wages even though he’s playing for Chelsea.”
When asked if he believed the named players were not good enough for United, Ratcliffe admitted, “Some aren’t, and some are overpaid. Reshaping the squad into one we fully take responsibility for will take time.”
Managerial upheaval and club challenges
Following United’s eighth-place Premier League finish last season and their FA Cup victory, Ratcliffe and his team initially backed Erik ten Hag as manager. However, after another disappointing run, Ten Hag was dismissed in October and replaced by Ruben Amorim. Ratcliffe has since acknowledged that retaining Ten Hag was a mistake.
He also admitted to errors in hiring Dan Ashworth as sporting director, a role Ashworth vacated after just five months.
“I acknowledge the mistakes in appointing Erik ten Hag and Dan Ashworth,” Ratcliffe said. “There were mitigating circumstances, but ultimately, they were errors. I accept responsibility and apologize.”
Despite United’s struggles under Amorim, who currently has the team languishing in 14th place in the Premier League, Ratcliffe expressed confidence in the Portuguese manager.
“If you look at the squad available to Ruben, I think he’s doing a really good job,” he said. “He’s an outstanding young manager, and I believe he’ll be here for the long term.”
Fan protests and financial concerns
Ratcliffe’s remarks came just a day after thousands of United fans protested against the club’s ownership ahead of the 1-1 draw with Arsenal on March 9. Chants directed at both Ratcliffe and the Glazer family highlighted growing discontent over decisions such as mid-season ticket price hikes and impending job cuts.
Ratcliffe defended the cost-cutting measures, stating that they were “necessary” to avoid financial instability.
“If we don’t make these changes, we’d run out of money by Christmas,” he explained.
Despite the club’s turmoil, Ratcliffe assured fans that Amorim would have financial backing to strengthen the squad in the upcoming transfer window.
Manchester United have not won the Premier League since 2013, marking the end of Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary tenure. However, Ratcliffe remains determined to restore the club to its former glory.
“My only goal is to bring Manchester United back to greatness,” he declared. Photo by Steve Collis from Melbourne, Australia, Wikimedia commons.