United quit Mayfair

Club’s powerbase will shift from London to Old Trafford

MANCHESTER United are moving their London headquarters as part of plans to build a greater powerbase at Old Trafford.

United will end 10 years in their luxury offices in Mayfair — where Erik ten Hag checked in after accepting the manager’s job last May, and where some of United’s biggest recent transfer deals were struck.

Former executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward was based at the office on Stratton Street along with senior figures including Matt Judge, United’s chief transfer negotiator until last year. But Woodward’s replacement Richard Arnold has preferred to be based at Old Trafford since he took over as chief executive 13 months ago. Football operations, which were overseen by Woodward and Judge, are now controlled by football director John Murtough and staff at Carrington HQ. It has led to a greater focus on the North West. Arnold set up United’s London operation in 2010, three years before the club moved to Mayfair, where they pay 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. Staff are expected to move in this autumn. Sources say United will keep a significant presence in London and will keep a commercial team in the capital to maintain strong relations with partners. One insider said: ‘ We’re not abandoning London at all, it’s just one elite space for another.’