The 10 most expensive football training grounds in the world

Football has become a multimillion-dollar business in recent years, and it is, therefore, no surprise that clubs around the world continue to commit huge funds to the development of the game.

FIFA has been contributing to the international level, but clubs’ efforts are equally important. The majority of elite European clubs have turned to youth development in a bid to build for the future.

To do this, though, major investments have gone into developing world-class training grounds. Big teams like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Arsenal have built ultra-modern training grounds to help with player development.

But have you ever wondered how much money has gone into the construction of these world-class training facilities?

Below, let’s delve into the 10 most expensive football training grounds in the world:

#10. Academia Sporting (Sporting CP) – $20 million  

The Sporting Lisbon academy is one of the best in the world, having produced some of Portugal’s greatest talents. This is the same ground that nurtured Luis Figo and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Academia Sporting, as the ground is known, boasts some state-of-the-art facilities and is estimated to cost $20 million. Although Porto and Benfica are bigger traditional clubs than Sporting Lisbon, the latter is the leader when it comes to producing players for the Portugal national team.

During the Euro 2016 final, eight of the 11 players who started for Portugal were nurtured by the Academia Sporting. The top-notch facilities at the centre makes it one of the most expensive training grounds in the world.

#9. Cobham Training Centre (Chelsea) –$25.8 million

The Cobham Training Centre is used by Premier League side Chelsea. The centre was opened in 2007, replacing Stoke D’Abernon as the Blues’ training ground. The centre cost an amount of $25.8 million and has many ultra-modern facilities.

The training ground is built like a campus on a 140-acre site and houses all of the club’s activities, including that of the first team, reserves, academy, and women’s team. Cobham has 30 football pitches and a hydrotherapy pool.

Other facilities include an indoor artificial pitch, gyms, a media center, cold immersion pools, a sauna, and a steam room. Cobham’s investment in cutting-edge facilities has played a crucial role in the development of young talent within the Chelsea Academy.

#8. AON Training Complex (Manchester United) –  $73.3 million

The AON Training Complex, also called Carrington, is Manchester United’s training ground. It is located in Greater Manchester and is home to the club’s academy and first team.

Construction of the complex began in 1999. The first team started using it in 2000, and the academy followed in 2002. The total cost to build the AON Training Complex was $73.3 million.

The building has two floors. The first floor includes the manager’s office, assistant manager’s office, coaches’ offices, a match analysis suite, a first-aid station, a doctor’s office, classrooms, conference rooms, and a restaurant.

Meanwhile, the second floor has a large gym, a rehab training hall, squash and basketball courts, sauna and steam rooms, executive offices, changing rooms, and laundry rooms.

#7. Säbener Straße (Bayern Munich) – $77.3 million

Säbener Straße, often referred to as the Bayern Campus, is the renowned training ground of FC Bayern Munich. This state-of-the-art complex, built between 2015 and 2017, serves as the hub for the first team, youth teams, and other club departments.

The multipurpose center costs $77.3 million and has facilities for football, basketball, table tennis, and handball.  There are also eight football pitches inside the campus, which serve the youth teams and the women’s teams.

The Bayern Campus also contains 35 apartments that house academy players who do not live in or around Greater Munich. In addition, there is a stadium with a capacity of 2,500, as well as a number of offices for youth coaches and staff.

#6. Zions Bank Training Center (Real Salt Lake) – $78 million

The Zions Bank Training Center, a state-of-the-art facility owned by Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake, serves as the training ground for both the first team and its USL affiliate, Real Monarchs. This impressive complex boasts a 208,000-square-foot indoor structure, recognized as the largest pre-engineered free-span building in North America.

The center features eight meticulously maintained fields, including two equipped with state-of-the-art artificial turf. It also houses the Zions Bank Stadium, home to the Real Monarchs, and incorporates the RSL Academy High School, a 300-student STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) charter school.

Constructed at a cost of approximately $78 million, the Zions Bank Training Center has structures to be able to host international delegations, high school and college activities and other sporting events

#5. Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper (FC Barcelona) – $85.5 million

Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, the training ground and academy base for FC Barcelona, is named in honor of the club’s founder, Joan Gamper. Located west of Barcelona, this state-of-the-art complex replaced La Masia, the club’s former youth academy. 

Constructed at a cost of approximately $85.5 million and officially opened in 2006, the Ciutat Esportiva boasts a range of top-class facilities. These include multiple football pitches – five natural grass fields and three FieldTurf surfaces – alongside a multi-sport pavilion accommodating basketball, handball, and futsal, with a spectator capacity of 472. 

The complex also features modern gymnasiums, state-of-the-art medical facilities, and dedicated areas for recovery and rehabilitation. The centre currently houses about 85 of Barcelona’s youth players.

#4. Ciudad Real Madrid (Real Madrid) – $110.3 million

Real Madrid’s training ground, known as Ciudad Real Madrid, was opened in 2005 to replace Ciudad Deportiva, which was sold by the club. The center, which cost $110.3 million to construct, serves both Real Madrid’s first team and youth teams.

It has three full-size synthetic turf fields, four full-size natural grass fields, one-third full-size synthetic turf fields, and three full-size natural grass fields. The centre also has academy offices, equipment rooms, audiovisual rooms, medical rooms, and a hydrotherapy centre, among other ultra-modern facilities.

Meanwhile, the Ciudad Real Madrid also houses the Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium, where Real Madrid’s reserve team plays their home matches. The club’s basketball team also trains at the center.

#3. The Seagrave (Leicester City) – $135.9 million

Leicester City’s training ground, The Seagrave, is located in Seagrave, North Leicestershire, UK, and was built between Spring 2019 and December 2020, costing about $135.9 million.

The facility spans 185 acres (75 hectares) and boasts 21 playing surfaces, including 14 full-size pitches and a main pitch that houses a 499-seat stadium for youth and academy matches. The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Building is the center for training, medical care, and administrative work for the first team and the academy.

The King Power Centre features an indoor pitch, a media center, cryotherapy chambers, a gym, and hydrotherapy units. The Sports Turf Academy trains top grounds staff, and there’s even a private nine-hole golf course for players to relax.

This modern training ground, funded by King Power and the Srivaddhanaprabha family since 2010, helps develop first-team and academy players, keeping Leicester City competitive at the highest level.

#2. Etihad Campus (Manchester City) – $244.2 million

The Etihad Campus, owned by Manchester City, is widely regarded as one of the most expensive and impressive football training facilities in the world.

The complex, which includes the City Football Academy, boasts state-of-the-art training grounds, a 7,000-capacity stadium (Academy Stadium), and various other amenities, cost a whopping $244.2 million.

The campus features six outdoor pitches, accommodation facilities for youth players and visiting teams, and a 56-seat TV auditorium. The centre was built in 2012 and was officially opened a year later.

It is this massive investment that has seen the club rise to the top of English football in recent years, with the likes of Phil Foden and Rico Lewis successfully graduating from the City Academy to join the first team.

#1. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) training ground – $315 million

The PSG Training Ground, called Campus PSG, is one of the most advanced football facilities in the world. Located in Poissy, France, it shows PSG’s focus on greatness. Built with an estimated huge $315 million budget, construction started in 2020 and finished in 2024.

Designed by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, the campus covers 59 hectares. It features 16 football fields, hydrotherapy pools, performance areas, and a clubhouse. There’s also the Rouge & Blue School, which helps young players with their studies.

A key highlight is the 5,000-seat stadium for youth and women’s team games, like the UEFA Youth League and Women’s Champions League. This cutting-edge facility supports PSG’s men’s, women’s, and youth teams, helping them grow and succeed.

Emmanuel Ayamga

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This bloke is a full-time writer. I'm you guy when it's all about football writing...

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