Man United to move London HQ as club eye greater Old Trafford powerbase

Manchester United are moving their London headquarters as part of the club’s plans to build a greater powerbase at Old Trafford.

United will leave their luxury offices in Mayfair after 10 years and move across West London to a new home in Kensington.

The Mayfair HQ is where Erik ten Hag and his assistants Mitchell van der Gag and Steve McClaren first checked in after the Dutchman accepted the manager’s job last May, and where some of United’s biggest transfer deals of the last decade have been struck.

Former executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward was based at the office on Stratton Street along with a number of other senior figures including Matt Judge, United’s chief transfer negotiator until last year.

However, Woodward’s replacement Richard Arnold lives in Cheshire and has preferred to be based at Old Trafford since he took over as chief executive 13 months ago.

Also, United’s football operations which were overseen primarily by Woodward and Judge are now under the control of football director John Murtough and his staff at the club’s Carrington training complex. It has led to a greater focus on the north-west than under the previous regime.

Arnold set up United’s first London operation in 2010 and the club moved to Mayfair three years later where they have been paying nearly £1million-a-year for 11,500 square feet of luxury office space.

United have now signed a 10-year lease to rent the entire top floor of The Kensington Building which covers 16,000 sq ft plus a 7,414 sq ft roof terrace. The club have already started to design the new office with staff expected to move in this autumn.

Sources say United are still committed to having a significant presence in London and will keep a commercial team in the capital to maintain a strong relationship with some of their partners.

One insider said: ‘We’re not abandoning London at all, it’s just one elite space for another.’

The move comes at a time when United are facing a period of huge change. The Glazer family are considering selling the club to new owners, and a decision must be made over redeveloping Old Trafford or building an entirely new stadium. Plans are also under way to improve the facilities at Carrington.