Irish FA president Conrad Kirkwood said: “Realising this project will significantly benefit our teams and players, creating an impressive football campus and leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.

“We anticipate the National Football Centre being a bespoke, world-class facility with a distinct Northern Ireland identity, serving players of all ages, both male and female, while also benefiting the local community and grassroots football.”

Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson said the project is the “result of significant strategic thinking”.

“We have been able to amass capital funding over a long period to make this vision a reality, and we look forward to working with our partners at Galgorm in the coming years,” added Nelson.

Northern Ireland men’s team manager Michael O’Neill said the centre will help the country’s international teams prepare for games “better than ever”.

“It will also inspire our future international stars on their journey in football from a young age,” said O’Neill.

“High-quality pitches where coaches and players can work are essential for creating a high performance environment and strong identity across all age groups.”

Northern Ireland women’s manager Tanya Oxtoby said: “This initiative reaffirms our commitment to developing top-tier facilities and resources for our players.

“It strengthens our culture of excellence and high performance.”