By Amaechi Agbo

Shakhtar Donetsk will play their UEFA Champions League home matches at Stamford Bridge for the 2026/27 season, following an official agreement struck with Chelsea Football Club.

The historic agreement ensures that Stamford Bridge will host at least four matches in the newly expanded Champions League league phase. The partnership comes in the wake of Chelsea’s difficult 2025/26 campaign, where a 10th-place finish in the Premier League left them completely excluded from European competitions.

Chelsea explicitly acknowledged this logistical irony, stating that their absence from continental football opened up the necessary calendar space to accommodate the Ukrainian champions safely and smoothly.

Shakhtar Donetsk has been displaced from their state-of-the-art Donbas Arena since 2014 due to the initial outbreak of conflict in eastern Ukraine. While they utilize the Lviv Arena for domestic league games, the ongoing full-scale war has forced them to roam across Europe for continental competitions.

Having previously staged European fixtures in Hamburg, Warsaw, and Slovenia, the club explored several UK venues—including Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium—before finalizing the switch to Stamford Bridge.

The move is also expected to foster a massive connection with the substantial Ukrainian community currently residing in the United Kingdom.

Both clubs expressed mutual gratitude regarding the partnership, with Shakhtar citing the “special opportunity” to play at a historic venue, and Chelsea confirming they will work closely to ensure smooth matchdays.

“Playing our Champions League home matches at Stamford Bridge is a special opportunity for Shakhtar. We are grateful to Chelsea Football Club for the opportunity to host our games at this special venue”, Shakhtar said.

The agreement is currently awaiting final regulatory approval from UEFA and local authorities. Shakhtar’s opponents will be finalized during the upcoming draw in Monaco.