Foster + Partners and MANICA have unveiled their designs for the replacement of the iconic San Siro stadium in Milan following years of uncertainty over the site’s future.

The new 71,500-seat Generali Stadium would be shared by AC Milan and Inter Milan, the two Serie A clubs which have been based at the historic San Siro since 1926.

The demolition of the existing ground has been discussed for more than a decade with proposals for the rectangular Cathedral stadium designed by Populous selected by the two clubs in 2021.

The scheme provoked years of bitter rows with Italian heritage authorities which resulted in the plans being dropped in 2023 before the clubs appointed Fosters and MANICA to look at fresh redevelopment options last year.

Foster + Partners said its new vision for the site has been “conceived to carry the spirit of San Siro into a new era”.

Said to be inspired by Milan’s architectural heritage and design culture, the stadium is built around a concrete X-frame structure which rises through the facade to support the building’s curved roof.

Foster + Partners founder Norman Foster said the project offered an opportunity to honour the legacy of San Siro with a modern stadium rooted in the culture of Milan.

He said: “Milano is a city shaped by makers, engineers, and restless ambition. From San Siro to La Scala, buildings act as epicentres of culture and entertainment. 

“This project represents a remarkable opportunity to build upon San Siro’s legacy – channelling its powerful spirit to continue the story of AC Milan and FC Internazionale Milano. 

“As the centrepiece of a wider urban regeneration scheme, Generali Stadium will be a year-round destination and a state-of-the-art landmark, authentically and unmistakably Milano.” 

The stadium bowl has been designed to bring supporters as close as possible to the pitch, with the building curving upwards at both ends to amplify both the atmosphere and the visual impact for spectators, Foster + Partners said.

The ground would sit at the centre of a wider 281,000sq m urban regeneration project containing new green spaces, leisure and retail destinations designed to welcome fans and visitors from across the world.

The proposals will now advance through the local planning process with construction scheduled to start in 2028 and complete in time for the 2031/32 season.