Manchester United are reportedly confident that deals can be done that will allow them to press ahead with plans to construct a new 100,000-seater stadium. The Red Devils are intending to move out of their current Old Trafford base, but remain on an iconic site as a lavish new ground is built. There are a number of hurdles to clear before that dream becomes a reality.
Wembley of the north’
The Premier League giants revealed in March 2025 that blueprints have been drawn up for what co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to see become ‘Wembley of the North’. It has been suggested that the exciting venture, which reportedly comes with a £2 billion ($2.7bn) price tag, could be completed by 2030.
That may sound a little ambitious, given all of the red tape that needs to be cleared before ground can be broken, but United are making positive progress. One key component of the scheme will be acquiring more land that surrounds the original ‘Theatre of Dreams’. The Red Devils own plenty of that, but not enough to green light their project.
Burnham’s intervention
The rail yard that surrounds Old Trafford belongs to Freightliner, and that must be acquired in order to clear space for a stunning stadium that has already seen plans tinkered with slightly. United have been given hope by local government that the purchases they need to complete can be offered a helping hand.
Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has previously admitted that compulsory purchase powers could be employed if United’s negotiations with Freightliner reach an impasse. It has been claimed that Freightliner value their site at £350m ($470m), although Burnham has said: “I think everyone should file that one away.”
Design work paused
According to the minutes from United’s latest fans’ forum, which have been picked up by The Mirror, discussions between the club and Freightliner are heading in a positive direction. A spokesperson for the Red Devils has said: “While Manchester United owns a significant portion of land around Old Trafford, it is not all in a single, continuous block. To accommodate the scale of the proposed new stadium – including a canopy – and to avoid disruption to the existing stadium during construction, we are working to secure additional land. We’ve been engaged in constructive discussions with neighbouring landholders and are optimistic about reaching mutually agreeable terms in the coming months.”
They added on a project that remains fluid for now: “Early design work has been intentionally paused until we have greater clarity on land assembly and fan requirements. As with other aspects of the project, we encourage fans to treat speculative media reports with caution. We remain excited by the vision set out by Foster + Partners for a new stadium at the heart of a wider regeneration of the Old Trafford area.
“We always said this was a conceptual design, with more detailed architectural work to follow. While we remain keen to advance as quickly as possible, the timetable is subject to progress on land assembly and financing, which depends on key stakeholders working together.”
What comes next?
United will require further assistance from local and national government in order to deliver on their ultimate target, with there no way that they can finance the project alone. They have been working closely with Trafford Council, as the new stadium will offer benefits to the local community far beyond the matchday experience.
The Red Devils are hoping that the redevelopment of their legendary base will have been completed in time to host games at the 2035 Women’s World Cup – with the potential there for the final of that tournament to head north away from Wembley.
They will also be looking for their men’s team to have taken significant strides forward by the time that a stunning venue throws open its doors, with Ruben Amorim under pressure to deliver at present as inconsistency continues to plague an expensively-assembled squad that finds itself without European competition in 2025-26. United will be back in Premier League action on Sunday when taking in a trip to old adversaries Liverpool.
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