Chelsea deal means Stamford Bridge rebuild cannot start until 2027

Chelsea can’t start fixing up Stamford Bridge until at least 2027 because they just bought some land next to it for £80 million.

They sealed the deal on Wednesday to snag a 2.47-acre plot from Stoll, a charity that helps veterans find homes.

This purchase means Chelsea can start thinking about what to do with Stamford Bridge. They’ve got a few options: they could completely rebuild the stadium, fix it up one stand at a time, or even move somewhere else.

But don’t expect any construction to start until 2027. That’s because they’re giving the folks living nearby a chance to find new homes first.

The sale got the thumbs up from Stoll’s board of trustees back in October after chatting with folks in the area. Now that they’ve found a new spot for the veterans, everything’s set.

Some parts of the Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions, a historic building, might need to be part of the plan for Stamford Bridge since they’re listed as Grade II.

Stoll’s CEO, Will Campbell-Wroe, explained why they chose Chelsea: they’ve been good neighbors for a long time, and both sides want to keep that going.

He said they took their time to talk with every resident and figure out what would work best for everyone. Finally, they found a spot half a mile away where everyone can stick together as a community.

Chelsea’s big goal is to have a top-notch stadium ready by 2030, but it might take longer than that. The club’s owners haven’t laid out a clear plan yet.

Jason Gannon, Chelsea’s chief operating officer, said they’re excited about expanding at Stamford Bridge and making sure the club stays financially strong.

Last week, it was reported that Gannon and Chris Jurasek are now in charge of the redevelopment plans, taking over from Jonathan Goldstein and Janet Marie Smith.