The management of Donetsk's "Shakhtar" has determined the priority country for hosting home matches in the 2026/27 Champions League season. The Ukrainian champions plan to relocate their European games to England, a strategic move for the club that has been forced to seek safe venues for the past few years.

According to Sport RBC.UA, citing the authoritative British publication The Athletic, official representatives of the "miners" have already traveled to London to conduct negotiations. Currently, the club is considering options to rent stadiums from three London Premier League teams.

Candidates for partnership

The list of potential landlords includes clubs that will not be able to play in European competitions this season. This significantly facilitates logistics and calendar planning, increasing the chances of successful negotiations. The contenders include:

  • "Chelsea" and "Stamford Bridge" stadium;
  • "Brentford" and "Gtech Community" stadium;
  • "Fulham" and "Craven Cottage" stadium.

Finances and security

The move to the British Isles is dictated not only by security concerns but also by the expectation of financial success. Shakhtar's management is counting on huge interest from British fans in Champions League matches. The high purchasing power of the English and audience density could ensure record profits for the Ukrainian giant from ticket sales and commercial rights.

History of forced relocations

For the Donetsk club, the search for new homes has become a familiar reality. After the start of the Russian aggression in 2014, "Shakhtar" was forced to leave its main stadium, "Donbass Arena". Until 2022, European matches were hosted at arenas in Lviv and Kharkiv. However, after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the club had to look for venues abroad. Previously, stadiums in Poland and Germany served as a haven for the "orange and blacks".

Thus, London could become the next important stage in the history of survival and development of one of the most titled clubs in Ukraine, allowing it to maintain competitiveness on the international arena.