Carrington upgrade underway

A guided tour reveals a transformed Carrington hub funded by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with new facilities designed for players and staff.

Manchester United unveils Carrington training centre upgrade

Manchester United opened the revamped Carrington training centre with a £50m upgrade funded by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The project includes a new basement with steam and sauna, cold and hot plunge pools, and hydroworks, plus on-site MRI and CT scanners to track players during rehabilitation. A redesign of recovery spaces, a high altitude room, and improved natural light are meant to support performance.

The dressing rooms, media spaces, and meeting rooms have been rebuilt to mirror an elite workspace. The academy and women's teams regain dedicated quarters, while the first team now has a larger dressing room, a barbershop, and a dedicated media area. Staff can work in open spaces with trophy displays to remind players of the club's history.

Officials say keeping players on site and integrating data-driven analysis aim to sharpen the club's competitive edge, but the scale of the investment also invites scrutiny from fans and critics who watch how the money is spent.

The Carrington upgrade signals football's shift toward science-driven operations. Ownership groups use state-of-the-art facilities to attract and retain talent, with players helping shape spaces during design. This turn toward spectacle and performance mirrors broader trends in elite sport.

Yet large expenditure invites questions about priorities and accountability. If the on-field gains lag behind the cost, supporters and critics may question finance choices and governance, especially as staff relocate and Old Trafford footprints change. Ambition can be powerful, but it must translate into sustained results and clarity of purpose.

Highlights

Ambition meets daily work in Carrington.