In order to serve as a residence for Liverpool Women, the club repurchased Melwood from affordable housing trust Torus earlier this year.
Liverpool and AXA have expanded their collaboration to include naming rights for the women’s team’s new home at Melwood.
For more than 70 years, the men’s squad trained at the storied West Derby location before Jurgen Klopp’s club moved to the £50 million AXA Training Centre in Kirkby in November 2020. In order to house Liverpool Women, the club repurchased Melwood from affordable housing organization Torus earlier this year. The facility will now be named as the “AXA Melwood Training Centre,” demonstrating AXA’S dedication to both the men’s and women’s teams.
Earlier this month, Matt Beard’s team, which had previously trained at Tranmere Rovers’ Solar Campus in Wallasey, moved into their new home as they continued their season-long preparations in front of their opening match against Arsenal on Sunday, October 1. The storied venue, steeped in LFC history, will start a new chapter for the women’s team and girls’ academy, allowing them to continue competing at the highest level while attracting, developing, and keeping the best talent in the game.
The club’s continued dedication to growing the women’s squad and girls’ academy is reinforced by the transfer to the top training facility, which also allows all players the chance to practice and compete at their highest levels. The AXA Melwood Training Center will accommodate both on- and off-field training, support player rehabilitation, host team meetings, press conferences, and offer office space for management and support staff.
The building will also be used for LFC Foundation programs that provide community outreach, as well as for the Fowler Education and Football Academy (FEFA), which provides education to young people.
Ben Latty, commercial director at Liverpool FC, reacted to the news with the following statement: “It’s excellent to see our partnership with AXA expand to reflect their commitment to both the men’s team and the women’s team, which aligns with the ‘One Club’ ethos we have here at LFC.
“We are delighted that AXA have taken this opportunity to further their relationship with the club and it comes at an exciting time for our women’s team in their fantastic new home at the AXA Melwood Training Centre.”
Virginie Berçot, Global Brand Director at AXA added: “This is a great opportunity to further our journey with Liverpool Football Club. In a world where women do not always benefit from the same conditions as men in sports, we are delighted to continue supporting and empowering female athletes. By inaugurating the new AXA Melwood Training Centre, we are proud to enable the LFC women’s team to keep playing at the top of their game.
“At AXA, we believe that being a woman shouldn’t be a risk in every aspect of life from health to business, including sports. This training centre is further proof of our commitment towards women”.