Shakhtar to play Champions League home games at Stamford Bridge
FC Shakhtar Donetsk will play their four home UEFA Champions League league-phase matches at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge during the 2026-27 season, subject to regulatory approvals. With Chelsea out of European football after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign, the west London club agreed a groundshare so Shakhtar can consolidate Chelsea games at one iconic London venue rather than scattered sites across Europe.
Key Takeaways
- Shakhtar will host four Champions League home fixtures at Stamford Bridge in 2026-27.
- Chelsea missed European qualification, leaving the stadium available for the arrangement.
- Chelsea retain full matchday control while Shakhtar operate as the designated home side.
- Chelsea season ticket holders and members can buy four-game bundles for £185.
- The deal remains subject to regulatory approvals, with a first home game possible on September 8.
Why is Shakhtar playing Champions League games at Stamford Bridge?
Shakhtar have not played at their Donbas Arena home since 2014, when conflict broke out near Donetsk, roughly 30 miles from the Russian border. For domestic football they use Arena Lviv, while recent European campaigns sent them to venues in Germany, Slovenia and Poland.
For 2026-27, Shakhtar wanted a single venue for their four home group games and four away fixtures. Club-to-club talks with Chelsea ran for more than a month, with Brentford and Fulham also considered before Chelsea emerged as the preferred London option, according to The Athletic.
How will ticketing and matchdays work for Chelsea games at the Bridge?
Stamford Bridge will run much like a standard Chelsea fixture, except Shakhtar are the home team. Chelsea keep operational control over security, stewarding and coordination with the Metropolitan Police. Shakhtar supporters buy tickets through their club; away fans sit in the corner or half of the Shed End.
Chelsea season ticket holders and members can purchase a discounted bundle of all four group matches for £185, Chelsea confirmed. Shakhtar will sell to their fans via their website. For more on where European fixtures land on the calendar and broadcast schedule, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Does the deal relate to Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk transfer?
No. The groundshare is separate from Chelsea's January 2023 signing of Mudryk from Shakhtar for an initial £62 million, though the rapport built during those negotiations helped, The Athletic reported. Chelsea noted they were pleased to offer London as a host city given Shakhtar's history of playing across Europe, including Hamburg and Warsaw.
When could Shakhtar's first home game take place?
Both clubs aimed to finalize paperwork early because the first home match could come as soon as September 8. Champions League play-offs conclude the following week, with the league-phase draw set for August 27. The arrangement still requires regulatory sign-off before fixtures are confirmed.