The scheme has ‘completely rethought the existing building’, which was built in 1999 to the designs of AFL and later extended by Fairhursts and Marshall Kypriadis Associates in 2013.
When the practice was appointed last year, founder Norman Foster, who was born and grew up in Manchester, said the modernisation plans for the site would capture ‘the spirit of industry, grit and ambition that exemplifies both Manchester and Manchester United’.
Construction work started last June (2024) on the internal revamp of the main block to create a ‘high-performance collaborative environment for players and staff’. The refreshed facility has opened just days before the start of the 2025-2026 Premier League season.
Fosters is also behind the club’s proposed new 100,000-capacity stadium.
The training ground scheme, which is 9km from the club’s current Old Trafford stadium, features a giant ‘umbrella’ roof and includes a gym with an altitude room in which the oxygen levels can be adjusted, hydrotherapy pools, as well as new changing areas, medical suites with MRI and CT scanners, and recovery spaces.
There is even a hairdressing room, with barbers brought in individually by the players. The changing room includes touchscreens, allowing messages to be sent to team members directly.
Speaking to the BBC last week, the club’s billionaire co-owner Jim Ratcliffe said: ‘On the ground floor, there were no windows. It felt like you were in a hospital in the basement. It was a slightly gloomy place, a gloomy rabbit warren.
‘A world-class training facility won’t take [the club to the highest levels of competition] alone, but one of the key ingredients is a modern facility. Now we have one.’
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Foster + Partners’ 2024 visualisation of the spiral staircase which takes players to the main lounge on the first floor (left); and as completed (in August 2025)
According to Fosters, the building’s structure has ‘largely been retained’ though altered to incorporate larger windows and rooflights ‘which bring natural light directly into the centre of the floorplate’.
Timber panelling has been added throughout, while new integrated MEP systems improve the building’s performance and energy efficiency.
Fosters head of studio Nigel Dancey said: ‘Every element has been honed to optimise players’ health and wellbeing, with an emphasis on open plan spaces, natural daylight and materials. Our design reconfigures the functional spaces and provides a seamless and intuitive journey through the building, with new state-of-the-art facilities that will aid recovery, preparation, and performance.’
As well as spending money on the upgraded training centre and the development of plans for Old Trafford itself, Manchester United has also spent heavily on the team this summer.
Last week, the club brought in RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, in a deal reportedly worth £73.7 million, having already secured Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5 million and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford for an initial £65 million fee.
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MUFC Carrington Training Centre, Manchester. A dining area in the centre of the main lounge connects with a state-of-the-art kitchen to support players’ nutrition.
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