Manchester United have confirmed they have acquired a 25-acre site located 350 metres north-west of Old Trafford that will form the base for a proposed new 100,000-seater stadium. The club said the purchase moves the project into a new phase and provides the physical footprint for work that remains at the planning stage.

“Today’s news highlights the progress we’re making towards a world-class new home for Manchester United and represents a significant milestone as we move into the next phase of development.” said Stadium Development CEO Collette Roche.

“Being able to build so close to Old Trafford allows us to preserve the heritage, traditions and rituals that are so important to our fans. We are committed to building a world-class stadium with our supporters, not just for them, with atmosphere, affordability and accessibility at the heart of our thinking.

“This is a generational opportunity that is fully aligned with both local and national growth ambitions. Securing the right land for our new home has been absolutely critical, and the land we’ve acquired gives us the stage to deliver a truly world-class stadium that honors our past and is ready for our future.”

United added that the wider plans include an extensive regeneration programme. The 370-acre regeneration project is expected to deliver around 15,000 new homes, including affordable housing, create 48,000 new jobs locally and over 90,000 nationally.

No formal construction timetable has been confirmed and planning is ongoing. Roche has previously pointed to the 2032–33 season as a potential target for a formal move away from Old Trafford. For now the club says securing the site is a critical step towards delivering a stadium intended to combine scale with retained local identity and new wider economic investment.

Brazil international Éderson has confirmed he is close to finalising a transfer to Manchester United, telling Sky in Italy: “It’s practically all done.

“But I have to take advantage of this moment. I’m here [at the World Cup], it’s a beautiful thing that must be enjoyed to the fullest.”

The move is expected to be completed later this summer once the World Cup concludes. United have identified midfield as their primary area of reinforcement and view Éderson as an economical first signing as they plan further arrivals.

Casemiro’s exit has left Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte as the only natural midfield options in Michael Carrick’s squad, and the Uruguay international is expected to depart as well. That situation has sharpened the club’s focus on recruiting at least two midfield additions.

United are prepared to spend on midfield reinforcements but are conscious of budget and value. With Éderson entering the final year of his Atalanta contract, the club moved quickly to secure a cut-price deal as part of a wider recruitment plan.

Attention now turns to securing a headline signing to complete the rebuild. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson had been under consideration, but Manchester City’s pursuit of the player has complicated United’s chances and prompted them to widen their search.

Mateus Fernandes of West Ham United has risen to the top of United’s priority list. The 21-year-old is known to attract interest from a host of leading clubs, including Real Madrid, and United acknowledge he will not be a straightforward acquisition.

As contingency options, United are also monitoring Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba. Each of those targets is expected to command significant fees, reflecting the scale of the midfield overhaul the club intends to undertake.

Manchester United begin the 2026/27 Premier League season under Michael Carrick with back-to-back fixtures against newly promoted opposition. The campaign opens away to Hull City on 22 August, followed by a first Old Trafford match against Ipswich Town on 29 August. Everton are the visitors to Goodison Park in the following weekend before United host Manchester City in mid-September on 12 September.

Several high-profile ties are spread across the campaign. United travel to Anfield for the first meeting with Liverpool on 21 November, with the return at Old Trafford scheduled for 23 January. A trip to the reigning champions Arsenal comes on 19 December, the final Premier League match before Christmas Day, and the two clubs meet again at Old Trafford on 27 February.

Boxing Day sees Manchester United face Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on 26 December. The club finish the league season at home against Fulham on 30 May.

Between those markers the fixture list includes matches against the full complement of Premier League opposition: Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on 10 October, Chelsea away on 31 October, and a home meeting with Newcastle United on 6 January. Other scheduled fixtures include trips to Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Brentford and Sunderland, and home fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth, Tottenham and others as set out in the published calendar.

All listed kick-off times are shown in Eastern Time and British Summer Time or Greenwich Mean Time depending on the time of year. Live TV broadcasts will be chosen for select Premier League games throughout the season, and dates and kick-off times remain subject to change. The schedule provides a clear framework for United’s 2026/27 league campaign, with key local derbies, traditional fixtures and festive dates highlighted for supporters planning the season.