Stefan Borson
Thu 15 May 2025 21:00, UK
Chelsea’s owners are still deliberating over their future stadium plans as they look to increase the club’s capacity.
The London giants are deciding whether or not to leave Stamford Bridge, with Earl’s Court viewed as a possible location for a new facility.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly, who bought the club in May 2022 alongside Clearlake Capital, revealed it could be 2042 before a new stadium is built.
“It’s years in the making,” said Boehly. “When we originally bought the club, we agreed initially that we had 15 or 20 years to figure this out but it is a big project in a really interesting city like London where there’s a lot of constituencies that have an opinion.
“Obviously the number one constituency for us is our fan base and what’s going to be the best for Chelsea.
“I think everyone recognises that a club as big as Chelsea should have a stadium that reflects the size of the club and ultimately that’s going to be a strategic advantage.”
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Finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider a new stadium would cost billions to build in west London.
Stamford Bridge currently holds 40,173, while Manchester United’s Old Trafford – the largest club stadium in England – holds 74,197.
General view inside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Fulham FC at Stamford Bridge on February 03, 2023 in Londo...
Photo by Chris Lee/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
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Borson insisted the hesitation from Chelsea’s owners is likely down to the scale of any potential stadium project.
He told Football Insider: “I’m sure they’re quite well joined up on it.
“I just think it’s a very difficult and very expensive project because you’re going from Chelsea – the most expensive postcode in the UK by a mile – and looking for a very significant space to build a new stadium.
“You have got to make the new stadium worthwhile, and that means making it a better scale and revenue generator than what they already have.
“It can’t just be a cheap stadium or a small stand extending. It’s got to be quite an extensive and interesting project.
“You need to find the space to do it, or how are you going to do that in those postcodes? Then you’ve got a four-to-five-year build time perhaps. Where are you going to play for five years?
“I think the reason that there’s this hesitation is just because it’s a very difficult project for them to execute on and it’s very expensive.
“You are talking about billions of pounds with an uncertain return.”
Club (Stadium) Capacity
Man United (Old Trafford) 74,197
Tottenham (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium) 62,850
West Ham (London Stadium) 62,500
Liverpool (Anfield) 61,276
Arsenal (Emirates Stadium) 60,704
Man City (Etihad Stadium) 52,900
Newcastle (St James’ Park) 52,258
Aston Villa (Villa Park) 42,918
Chelsea (Stamford Bridge) 40,173
Everton (Goodison Park) 39,572
The Premier League’s biggest stadiums by capacity
Arsenal make Raheem Sterling permanent deal decision
In terms of on-field matters, Football Insider revealed on 5 May Raheem Sterling hasn’t done enough to earn a permanent Arsenal move this summer.
The Chelsea loanee has managed just one goal and five assists in 27 appearances for the Gunners.
Sterling is in the dark over his Chelsea future beyond this season, but he is under contract at Stamford Bridge until June 2027.
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