Inside Manchester United’s £50m Carrington Upgrade: Barber’s, F1 Simulators, and Smart Toilets
When Sir Jim Ratcliffe first walked into Manchester United’s Carrington training base, he was struck by its outdated, almost clinical atmosphere. It felt like you were in a hospital basement—gloomy, windowless, a bit of a rabbit warren, he recalled. Fast forward to today, and the club’s £50m revamp has transformed the facility into a cutting-edge hub designed to elevate player performance, recovery, and daily comfort. From barber chairs to Formula 1 simulators and even smart urinals, Carrington is now a far cry from its former self.
A New Era for Manchester United’s Training Ground
The £50m upgrade, completed on time and within budget, marks a significant step in Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s vision for Manchester United. This club is one of the most recognised brands in the world, Ratcliffe emphasised. Competing at the highest level demands modern, world-class facilities. Now, we have them.
Gone are the dim, claustrophobic corridors. In their place is an open-plan, light-filled space designed to foster collaboration and well-being. The players themselves had a major say in the redesign, submitting so many ideas that Ratcliffe eventually had to ask them to stop.
Barber’s Chair and F1 Simulator: Player-Centric Luxury
One of the most unexpected additions is the on-site barber’s station, complete with the traditional red, white, and blue barber’s pole. While the club doesn’t employ a full-time barber, players can bring in their preferred stylist when needed. Goalkeeper Tom Heaton joked that Diogo Dalot was likely the first to try it out.
Beyond vanity, this feature serves a practical purpose—elite athletes often get haircuts close to match days, and having the option on-site reduces unnecessary external trips, keeping players focused.
Just steps away, an F1 simulator has quickly become a favorite among players. Mason Mount and Ayden Heaven are among those who have already tested the high-speed virtual experience. Such amenities might seem excessive, but they reflect a modern approach to player engagement and relaxation.
Smart Toilets and High-Tech Health Monitoring
The revamped Carrington is packed with tech-driven innovations—none more surprising than the smart urinals, which provide instant hydration analysis. Athletes can monitor their fluid intake in real-time, ensuring optimal performance.
Elsewhere, the first-team dressing room features touchscreens at each player’s station, allowing coaches to send individualized training routines and messages. The nearby treatment room, overlooking the training pitches, houses nine beds and cutting-edge medical equipment, including MRI, CT, and full-body scanners.
Recovery has also been prioritized with expanded hydrotherapy options: swimmers, cold and hot plunge pools, an underwater treadmill, and a larger sauna and steam room. There’s even a high-altitude room where oxygen levels can be adjusted to simulate different training conditions.
From “Stuck in Time” to State-of-the-Art
Cristiano Ronaldo famously criticized Manchester United in 2022, claiming the club was stuck in time. Today, the £50m Carrington overhaul directly addresses those concerns. Players now have every resource necessary to train, recover, and perform at their peak.
Even the club’s structure promotes interaction—coaches, analysts, and executives work in shared spaces, breaking down silos. A cinema room with Italian leather seats ensures players remain comfortable (if not always relaxed) during match analysis sessions.
What’s Next for Carrington?
While much of the facility is now complete, some finishing touches remain. The temporary structures previously used by the women’s team will be replaced with a padel court, and red light therapy pods will be installed. Sleeping pods and dry flotation tanks are also in the works, encouraging players to spend more time recovering on-site.
As Diogo Dalot put it: The message was clear—this club deserved more. Sir Jim and his team have done a fantastic job.
With Carrington now a benchmark for elite training facilities, Manchester United has taken a major step toward reclaiming their place at football’s summit. The £50m investment goes beyond bricks and mortar—it’s a statement of intent for a club determined to compete with the very best.
Related Topics: Manchester United, Football, Training Facilities
