Why Shakhtar Donetsk Are Hosting Champions League Matches at Stamford Bridge
Shakhtar Donetsk will begin their Champions League home programme against AEK Athens on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge, with the Ukrainian club staging the match almost 1,700 miles from Donetsk.
Chelsea’s ground will serve as Shakhtar’s European home venue throughout this season’s league phase. The arrangement covers four fixtures, including January’s meeting with Real Madrid.
Quick facts
- Shakhtar face AEK Athens at Stamford Bridge on Oct. 14.
- Sporting CP are due in London on Nov. 3.
- Fenerbahce will visit on Nov. 25.
- Real Madrid are scheduled to play Shakhtar on Jan. 27.
Donetsk has not hosted Shakhtar at the Donbas Arena since 2014. Security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine left the club seeking a venue for its four Champions League home dates.
In recent European campaigns, Shakhtar have used stadiums in Poland, Slovenia and Germany. They had also been connected with Brentford’s stadium before concluding an agreement with Chelsea.
Shakhtar said the chance to bring Champions League matches to Stamford Bridge was significant for the club, describing the London stadium as a historic venue with a notable atmosphere. The club expects the fixtures to be memorable for both Ukrainian and English supporters.
London is home to about 19,000 people born in Ukraine, based on the 2021 UK census, giving Shakhtar a substantial potential local audience for the games.
Chelsea have no European schedule of their own this season after finishing 10th in the Premier League in 2025-26 and missing out on continental qualification. The club cited that disappointing campaign as part of the context for opening Stamford Bridge to Shakhtar.
Chelsea said it was looking forward to receiving Shakhtar for the Champions League campaign and would work alongside the Ukrainian club in the coming weeks to ensure safe, orderly matchdays for players and fans.
The agreement also carries historical context. Chelsea was owned for 20 years by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, who sold the club in 2022 after UK government sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine put pressure on his ownership.
For domestic matches, Shakhtar have generally used the Lviv Arena since 2014. That stadium is around 600 miles from Donetsk, underlining the long-running displacement faced by the club.
