Fiorentina has unveiled plans for a new stadium, which the Serie A club hope will be ready to move into for the start of the 2021-22 season.

The new stadium will seat 40,000 people, with the closest fans being only seven metres from the field of play.

The €420 million (£370m) project will be built in a northwestern suburb of Florence and also includes a shopping centre, restaurants, a hotel and new transport links.

Fiorentina have moved closer to obtaining the green light for a new 40,000-seat stadium

A model of the new stadium was unveiled at the town hall in Florence on Friday afternoon

Della Valle has dubbed the project a 'Purple Renaissance' but financial investors are needed

The current stadium - the Stadio Artemio Franchi - was opened in 1931 and has hosted group games at two World Cups, in 1934 and 1990.

The current ground has been viewed as preventing the club from maximising its potential, but with the new transport routes, shopping centre and hotel, Fiorentina believe they can become a dominant force in Italian football.

'For us, it's an historic day,' Fiorentina owner Andrea Della Valle said.

'The initial project started nine years ago. It's a big step for the city of Florence and all of Italy, but it'll need a bit of patience, maybe another four years or so.

'It was necessary to solve some small issues. I'd like to call this the Purple Renaissance.

Fiorentina owner Diego Della Valle (right) applauds the model alongside mayor Diego Nardella

Fiorentina owner Andrea Della Valle says it is 'an important project for Florence and for Italy'

NEW FIORENTINA STADIUM Opening date: August 2021 Cost: €420m (£370m) Capacity: 40,000 all-seater 700 indoor parking spaces, 1,000 bicycle slots New stadium will have a shopping centre, a hotel and restaurants Creation of 3,400 jobs Advertisement

STADIO ARTEMIO FRANCHI Opened: 13 September 1931 Architect: Pier Luigi Nervi Renovated: 1990 Capacity: 43,147 Record attendance: 58,271 (25 Nov 1984 - Fiorentina vs Inter Milan) Hosted matches at 1934 and 1990 World Cup Advertisement

'There's still a long way to go, but we've set down the the first brick. It's further proof of how much the Della Valle family are attached to Florence.'



The first brick is expected to be laid in 2019, with construction taking two years.

The club is still looking for financial investors for the project, but they hope to secure the necessary funds and follow in the footsteps of Juventus, Sassuolo and Udinese in moving to a new home.

The Mayor of Florence Nardella (left) takes a picture of the model at the Palazzo Vecchio

It will be a lot more compact than the current ground with some fans just seven metres away

The new stadium will be built with new technologies to respect the natural environment

The project will be built in a northwestern suburb of Florence and cost an estimated £370m

The Mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella, could not hide his satisfaction at the presentation, adding: 'It is a turning point, we have taken a road of no return that will bring Florence to a new stadium. Here, we can not say things that will not be realised, Palazzo Vecchio is a solemn place.

'The stadium will not be a cathedral in the desert: the redevelopment of the northwest quadrant is comprehensive, from the new airport, the tram line, engagement with the state railway for a new station, a new highway and network of cycle paths.

'No family like the Della Valles have committed so concretely for the stadium, for which I thank them. We will also create 3,4OO jobs. How would I rate the likelihood of accomplishment out of 10? I would say 9.'

Fiorentina have played their home matches at Stadio Artemio Franchi since September 1931

The old ground was used for World Cup group games in 1934 and 1990 but its outdated