Shakhtar want to play Champions League ties at Chelsea

Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk have reached an agreement to play their Champions League home matches at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge this season. This arrangement could potentially see up to four fixtures take place at the west London stadium as part of the expanded league phase. However, regulatory approval is still required for the deal to be finalized.

Both UEFA and Hammersmith and Fulham Council have given their blessing to the move. Chelsea chairman stated that Shakhtar have played in various European countries and looks forward to welcoming them to London for their Champions League campaign. Shakhtar expressed their excitement about playing at Stamford Bridge, calling it a special opportunity and a chance to create unforgettable emotions for Ukrainian and English fans.

The club had been unable to use their Donbas Arena since the 2014 annexation of Donetsk, leading to matches in Kyiv, Lviv, Germany, Slovenia, and Poland. Chelsea's decision to host Shakhtar was based on the opportunity to play at their 40,000-capacity stadium. Other potential venues like Fulham's Craven Cottage and Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium were also considered, but Stamford Bridge emerged as the preferred option due to its larger capacity.

The move aims to connect with the 32,000 Ukraine-born residents in the capital and the estimated 100,000 people of Ukrainian heritage living in the UK. The availability of Chelsea's stadium comes after the club finished 10th in the Premier League last season, leaving them without European football.