Manchester United have taken a landmark step towards abandoning their iconic Old Trafford home after announcing on Monday that they have secured the majority of the land required to build a proposed new 100,000-seat stadium, in a development that marks the most significant milestone yet in one of European football’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.

The club acquired a 25-acre site located approximately 350 metres north-west of their current ground from Indurent, a leading industrial space provider and a portfolio company of investment giant Blackstone.

The purchase price was not disclosed. United confirmed that the Freightliner land, which had previously been identified as a potential complication, will not be required for the actual stadium build, removing what had been considered a potential stumbling block for the project.

The proposed venue, being designed by globally renowned architecture firm Foster + Partners, is expected to cost in the region of £2 billion and will take approximately five years to construct once building work begins. When completed, it will be the largest sporting arena in the United Kingdom and the second-largest football stadium in Europe, behind only the Camp Nou in Barcelona.

The structure will be instantly recognisable on the Manchester skyline, featuring a distinctive trident of three masts, with the central mast rising 200 metres and incorporating a public viewing platform, making the complex visible from up to 40 kilometres away. A sweeping umbrella-style canopy spanning 126,000 square metres will cover the stadium and a surrounding commercial and entertainment quarter, with the design incorporating solar energy harvesting and rainwater collection systems.

Manchester United have worked closely with Trafford Council and the Old Trafford Regeneration Mayoral Development Corporation to ensure the new stadium integrates seamlessly with the wider regeneration vision for the district. The broader 370-acre regeneration project is expected to deliver around 15,000 new homes including affordable housing, alongside commercial spaces, transport infrastructure improvements and significant public realm upgrades. The club says it will engage directly with businesses affected by the development to support them through the transition.

The Old Trafford Regeneration Mayoral Development Corporation will publish its full vision for the project on July 9, when the formal public consultation period will also be launched and the stadium design phase with fan input will begin. Manchester United are targeting a move into the new stadium in time for the 2030-31 football season, with the new arena also currently under consideration as a potential host venue for the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup.