Manchester United's plans for a new stadium have been hit by further delays, with costs now expected to exceed £3 billion. The club, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, aims to replace the aging Old Trafford, which has been criticised as outdated compared to other Premier League venues.
A key sticking point is the purchase of land from Freightliner, who are demanding £400 million—eight times the £50 million offered by United. A compulsory purchase order could resolve the dispute, but experts warn the entire project may take up to a decade to complete.
A stadium expert told The Sun: “The current cost of the stadium is already north of £3billion – and the price will continue to rise. These kinds of massive projects won’t get cheaper, they are only going to increase.” The original estimate of £2 billion, announced a year ago, now appears optimistic.
United have seen rivals like Tottenham, Manchester City, and Liverpool invest in modern facilities. Old Trafford was overlooked for Euro 2028 in favour of the Etihad Stadium. Former United defender Gary Neville, part of a task force for the stadium's regeneration, previously said the ground had been “neglected for far too long.”
Ratcliffe has sought government support for the project, arguing it would benefit the north west. However, his recent comments describing the UK as “colonised by immigrants” may hinder his lobbying efforts.
