Shakhtar Donetsk have confirmed that they will host their upcoming Champions League home match against AEK Athens at Stamford Bridge in London, marking the first time the Ukrainian club will play a “home” fixture in England. The decision follows the club’s decision to move all European games out of Ukraine amid the ongoing war, a move that has forced the team to travel across Poland, Germany and Slovakia for every continental match.
The move to London comes after a series of disruptions that have become routine for the squad. Air‑raid sirens and the threat of Russian rockets have forced the players to seek shelter in stadiums and hotels across the country, while the logistics of moving a professional football team across borders has become increasingly complex. Shakhtar’s director of sports management, Vitaliy Khlivnyuk, has described the situation as a “panic room” for the club, citing the need for new residency permits for foreign players and staff that cannot be processed because the Ukrainian online system has been taken offline by Russian attacks.
Arda Turan, who took over as head coach in May 2025, has been at the centre of the club’s transformation. He has reminded everyone of his 2014 semi‑final goal against Chelsea, a moment that still resonates with the club’s ambition. “It’s an iconic stadium but it’s not our home,” Turan said, acknowledging the emotional toll of playing away from their own ground. He added that the team will need to bring all of its “dream and power” to the match in London.
The journey to England will begin in Lviv, where the squad will travel by bus to the Krakovets border crossing. From there they will cross into Poland, then travel to Rzeszów airport before boarding a flight to London. The trip will take approximately 18 hours, with the team stopping at various checkpoints along the way. The club’s bus driver, Oleksandr, has travelled over 930 miles to Slovenia for a Conference League game last season and has described the current journey as “normal now” for the squad, who have grown accustomed to the long trips.
The match at Stamford Bridge is seen as a culmination of Shakhtar’s ambition to play in the world’s biggest stadiums. Brazilian forward Kauã Elias, who has been playing for the club since 2024, said that the opportunity to play in London is a dream come true. “Since I was a kid I dreamed of playing there for Chelsea,” he said. “So going there with Shakhtar is a dream in the same way. We’re very happy to play in London this year.”
The club’s players and staff will be required to pass through the UK’s electronic travel authorisation system, which has caused some last‑minute administrative headaches. One player discovered that his electronic travel authorisation did not work because the system had misread the name on his passport. A rushed reapplication ensured his safe passage with half an hour to spare before boarding. Turan will be on a video call with his assistants while waiting for the flight, and he will be working through episodes of Mobland during downtime. He has stated that he feels 100 percent part of the club’s family and that he wants to raise the voice of the people in Ukraine, even in the midst of war.