In what’s being heralded as “a first of its kind anywhere in the world”, premium online retailer Pro:Direct Soccer is to open PD:FC, its new global flagship ‘Football Performance & Culture’ store.
And the choice of the city for the concept’s early 2026 world debut “to set a new benchmark retail experience”? Manchester, and specifically, Manchester Arndale.
And the mission? PD:FC wants the store to become a new hub for the Greater Manchester football community – “uniting players, coaches, fans, culture-inspired creatives, and young talent in and around the game into one shared ecosystem”.
Pro:Direct also said it intends “to put Manchester on its own global stage”, showcasing the city’s passion and creativity to its eight million+ subscribers, fans and followers, “giving the Manchester community the ability to tell its own story to the world”.
Under a 10-year lease, the two-floor 9,180 sq ft store will exist “to elevate the service proposition and choice of performance product – ensuring every player finds the right fit, feel, and edge to allow them to ‘Play Better’”.
Sam Baldock, chief of brand at Pro:Direct Sport, said: “Manchester is the beating heart of football culture – a city where the game’s history, passion, and future collide. Launching our new PD:FC concept here is about more than opening a store; it’s about creating a space that lives and breathes football and its culture. A place where players and fans can connect with the very best the sport has to offer. This is our home for the football inspired community in the Manchester area – from the streets to the stadiums – and we can’t wait to welcome everyone through the doors.”
Graeme Jones, executive director for Manchester Arndale operator, Asset Management at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, added: “With Manchester’s reputation as the UK’s leading sporting city, Manchester Arndale is the perfect place for Pro:Direct Sport’s first physical store. [Its] arrival is testament to our consistent strong performance and ability to attract shoppers across Manchester and beyond.”
