Aberdeen Football Club has officially lodge a planning application to build a £40m (US$49.2m, €46.1m) stadium development in the Kingsford areas of the city.

The application – filed by Aberdeen Football Club plc and Aberdeen FC Community Trust – includes the building of a 20,000-seat stadium; a football academy comprising outdoor pitches, pavilion and ancillary buildings; and community sports facilities.

Halliday Fraser Munro, the Scottish architecture studio, has designed the stadium and surrounding masterplan.

Subject to planning approval, the project will be delivered in two phases, with the community and sports facilities and football academy being constructed first, followed by the stadium.

George Yule, executive vice chair of Aberdeen FC, said the projected would “create a focal point for footballing excellence and public participation in sport” and was “fundamental for the future of the club”.

“The club ensures this region is profiled nationally and internationally and has further plans to enhance its reputation as a visionary organisation, competing successfully in domestic and European competition, with best in class facilities for our supporters, staff and players,” he added.

“We cannot deliver the vision and provide a positive role model for young people without new facilities.”