Shakhtar Donetsk have initiated talks with Chelsea, Fulham, and Brentford regarding the possibility of staging their Champions League home matches at these London venues next season. The Ukrainian club is unable to host European fixtures in their home country due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, as UEFA has prohibited such games for safety reasons.
According to Standard Sport, Chelsea, who finished 10th in the Premier League last season and missed out on European qualification, could offer Stamford Bridge as a potential venue. This would provide the club with an alternative revenue stream. Fulham and Brentford have also been contacted, with Fulham already having a strong working relationship with Shakhtar following the club-record signing of Brazilian winger Kevin last summer.
Previous Hosting Arrangements
Last season, Shakhtar played their Conference League home games in Krakow, Poland. They have not used their Donbas Stadium home since 2014, instead playing domestic matches in Lviv, Kyiv, and Kharkiv. A spokesperson for Shakhtar confirmed to Standard Sport: “Shakhtar is currently negotiating with several venues in the United Kingdom and Germany in order to secure a host stadium for its UEFA Champions League matches next season. We will not comment on the process until a decision is announced in the near future.”
Champions League Qualification
Shakhtar won their 16th Ukrainian top-flight title last season, earning direct entry into the Champions League league phase, which begins on September 8. The club is expected to announce a decision on their host venue soon, with Champions League qualifying already underway.
