Chelsea to play all WSL games at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea will host all Women’s Super League (WSL) matches at Stamford Bridge starting next season, marking the end of a nine-year period at Kingsmeadow. The club’s main stadium, with a capacity of 41,000, will now serve as the permanent home for the women’s team, a goal set by chief executive officer Aki Mandhar since her appointment in September 2024.

Last season, Chelsea claimed the WSL title at Stamford Bridge. The decision to shift all fixtures to the larger venue comes after the club’s Women’s Champions League games were already played there, due to Uefa rules. Kingsmeadow, a Kingston upon Thames ground with a 4,850-capacity, including 2,265 seats, had been a familiar setting for many matches.

“Our commitment reaffirms our ambition to make Chelsea the leading women’s sports club globally,” stated Mandhar. “Playing WSL matches at an iconic ground ensures our players and supporters have the arena they deserve as we push the game forward.”

The club’s final game at Kingsmeadow occurred on 6 April, when they defeated Tottenham 2-1 to advance to the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals. Their remaining home fixtures this season are already scheduled at Stamford Bridge. The move was praised by Chelsea Fan Advisory Board members, who called it “a natural step” in the club’s evolution.

Transition and Ambition

Chelsea’s women’s team, led by Sonia Bompastor, will face a period of transition. Despite an unbeaten domestic treble in the 2024-25 campaign, they have slipped behind rivals in recent matches. The club is set to relinquish its six-year WSL trophy dominance and may miss the Champions League last four, but the stadium switch underscores their drive for growth.

“We will always feel a special bond with Kingsmeadow and the community that helped build our legacy,” added Bompastor. “This is a new chapter, but our ambition to win remains unchanged. We want to create further history.”

Kingsmeadow, where Emma Hayes guided the team to years of success, will still host Chelsea’s academy teams. The club has also planned a second venue to meet Uefa standards for potential Champions League games, though Stamford Bridge will be the primary location. Attendances at the new stadium will no longer be limited, as seen in European fixtures, and double-headers with men’s Premier League matches remain possible but unlikely.

In an open letter to supporters, players reflected on their time at Kingsmeadow. “Leaving after nine years is bittersweet,” they wrote. “Countless memories were made by fans, staff, and families at the stadium. We’ve celebrated victories and said heartfelt goodbyes, but our goal to win and lift more trophies stays the same.”

Podcast Returns

Ben Haines, Ellen White, and Jen Beattie will return for another season of the Women’s Football Weekly podcast. New episodes will be released every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, alongside interviews and additional content from the WSL and beyond.