Brentford pursues Shakhtar hosting deal for Champions League revenue

Brentford is in talks with Shakhtar Donetsk to host the Ukrainian side's Champions League fixtures at the Gtech Community Stadium next season. The discussions centre on the 2026-27 campaign, during which Shakhtar will enter directly into the league phase. The club secured this elevated entry after Paris St-Germain qualified via their Ligue 1 title having already won the Champions League.

For Brentford, securing Shakhtar as a tenant represents a significant commercial opportunity. The club actively rents out its ground as an important additional revenue stream.

In May, the venue hosted the 2026 edition of the Women's World Sevens football tournament. It has also staged a non-England international friendly between Australia's and New Zealand's men's side in 2023, as well as the 2025 Unity Cup. Bringing a regular Champions League participant to west London would mark a substantial upgrade to this commercial model.

Shakhtar's need for a base is a direct consequence of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which has forced the club to abandon its home stadium for European fixtures. Last season, the team played its home matches across Ljubljana and Krakow. A Shakhtar official said, "Shakhtar is currently negotiating with several venues in the United Kingdom and Germany in order to secure a host stadium for its Uefa Champions League matches next season. We will not comment on the process until a decision is announced in the near future."

Logistically, west London offers a clear path for Uefa approval. The Gtech Community Stadium complies with the governing body's stadium regulations, and Uefa would not block the move provided local authorities grant permission.

The timing also suits the London market. With Chelsea and Tottenham failing to qualify for any European football, only Arsenal and Crystal Palace will represent the capital in continental competition. This reduction in competing events creates a commercial opening for a club outside the European competitions to step into the void.

Palace's Europa League fixtures are expected to be confined to Thursdays, while Arsenal's Champions League games will rotate between Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This leaves fewer London-based scheduling conflicts than in previous seasons, smoothing the path for Brentford to accommodate Shakhtar on alternate midweek nights. The Gtech has prior experience handling major international fixtures, including Germany's quarter-final win over Austria at the 2021 Women's European Championships, which was held a year later due to the coronavirus pandemic.