Powerleague, the five-a-side football centre operator, has acquired JJB Sports’ estate of UK Soccer Domes for £17.4m.

The five centres – based in Manchester, Wigan, Derby, Blackburn and North Shields – take Powerleague’s UK portfolio up to 43. The Manchester site, near the Trafford Centre, is one of the largest five-a-side soccer centres in the world, with 19 indoor pitches and three outdoor pitches.

Claude Littner, executive chair of Powerleague, said: “This acquisition represents a step-change in the five-a-side football proposition offered by Powerleague. We now offer our customers the opportunity of experiencing the thrill of indoor as well as traditional outdoor play on latest generation playing surfaces at the highest quality purpose-built facilities.”

In addition to the acquisition, Powerleague has signed five-year sponsorship agreement with JJB, whereby JJB will become the official Sports Retailer for Powerleague’s centres.

Chris Ronnie, chief executive of JJB, said: “The sale of our Soccer Domes business is representative of our strategy of focusing on reenergising our retail offering, while at the same time looking for opportunities to increase the number, and profitability, of our combined health clubs and retail stores.”