Shakhtar eye Stamford Bridge for Champions League ties
Shakhtar Donetsk, a Ukrainian football club, wants to play Champions League home games at Chelsea FC's Stamford Bridge this season. The move is intended to connect with some of the 32,000 Ukraine-born residents in London, according to the latest Office for National Statistics figures.
Why it matters for Chelsea FC
Shakhtar have been unable to use their Donbas Arena since the 2014 Russia-backed annexation of Donetsk, playing domestic matches in Kyiv and Lviv, and European home games in Germany, Slovenia, and Poland. Negotiations are ongoing according to Ukrainian sources, with Chelsea providing the preferred option because of the chance to play at the Blues' 40,000-capacity stadium.
What comes next?
Fulham's Craven Cottage and Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium were also considered as Shakhtar explored options for bringing elite-level European football to west London. However, both have smaller capacities than Stamford Bridge and the proposition of playing Europe's biggest clubs or even English rivals in London has officials believing they can sell out a larger arena.
League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way)
Chelsea FC finished 10th in the Premier League last season, with 52 points from 38 games, and have 58 goals scored and 52 conceded so far this season, with a +6 goal difference. They are 33 points behind leaders Arsenal in the title race.
The move is not commercially motivated, with the clubs having built a strong relationship since Chelsea signed Mykhailo Mudryk in 2023 and through their involvement in the charity match Game4Ukraine. Shakhtar officials believe they can sell out a larger arena, including Stamford Bridge, with the proposition of playing Europe's biggest clubs or even English rivals in London.
The availability of Chelsea's stadium follows the club's 10th-place Premier League finish last season, which left them without European football. That means there should be no significant scheduling clashes, though Hammersmith and Fulham Council, and Uefa, would need to approve additional fixtures.
