Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk will play its Champions League matches this season at Stamford Bridge, the home ground of English club Chelsea.
The Ukrainian champions are playing their home matches away from Donetsk due to the Russian war on Ukraine.
Chelsea Club announced in its statement on its official website:
"Given Chelsea's disappointing 2025/26 season and its failure to qualify for European competitions, the club is pleased to offer Shakhtar the opportunity to play in London, the capital of the United Kingdom, in the Champions League."
"Shakhtar has previously played in various European cities, including Hamburg in Germany and Warsaw in Poland. Next season, Shakhtar will play its matches at Stamford Bridge in London."
Chelsea finished tenth in the English Premier League at the end of last season, ruling them out of continental competitions this season.
For its part, Shakhtar Club announced: "Playing our home Champions League matches at Stamford Bridge represents a unique opportunity for Shakhtar. We are grateful to Chelsea Football Club for enabling us to host our matches at this magnificent stadium."
It added, "Stamford Bridge is one of the most famous football stadiums in the world, with its rich history and electrifying atmosphere. We are confident that Shakhtar's matches in London will deliver unforgettable experiences for both Ukrainian and English fans."
Shakhtar qualified directly for the Champions League league phase without needing to go through the preliminary rounds as league champions.
The team will play eight matches in the league phase, four of which will be home games held in London.
Notably, Shakhtar's most prominent European achievement was winning the UEFA Cup title in the 2008-09 season.
