Digital-native Pro:Direct signs for first concept store at Manchester Arndale
Online sportswear retailer Pro:Direct, best known for selling the latest football boots and kit, has signed a 10-year lease to open its first PD:FC concept store at the Manchester Arndale shopping centre in early 2026.
PD:FC is described as the retailer’s “new global flagship football performance and culture store” and will be the first of its kind anywhere in the world, occupying 9,180 sq ft over two floors.
It will also mark a return to physical retail in the UK for Pro:Direct, which previously had a concept store called LDN19 on Foubert’s Place, just off Carnaby Street in London.
Manchester has been selected due to its deep chemistry and heritage in football, music and fashion, and the aim for PD:FC is to set a new benchmark retail experience, “uniquely showcasing how football innovation, performance and culture collide”.
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 Asset Management at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, on behalf of Manchester Arndale, added: "We’re excited to welcome Pro:Direct Sport to Manchester Arndale’s line-up, reinforcing our position as a top choice destination for e-commerce brands seeking to expand into physical retail."
