Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk is set to host its Champions League matches in London this season, with Chelsea's Stamford Bridge chosen as the venue. This marks the first time the club will play its European 'home' games in England.
The decision comes as playing European matches in Ukraine remains unfeasible. Shakhtar's travel schedule for these games is extensive, with journeys to the Polish border potentially taking up to 18 hours.
Head coach Arda Turan, appointed in May 2025, expressed mixed feelings about the arrangement. He noted that while Stamford Bridge is an iconic stadium, it is not their home, highlighting the difficulties of not having a home stadium at this level.
The team has grown accustomed to playing 'home' matches in various European locations, including Poland, Germany, and Slovakia. However, the logistical challenges and mental toll on players and staff continue to mount, according to Vitaliy Khlivnyuk, Shakhtar’s director of sports management.