Chelsea '£80m' purchase means 40,000-seater Stamford Bridge stadium could be expanded

Chelsea have taken a step closer to expanding Stamford Bridge with the purchase of a 1.2-acre site next door.

The board of trustees at Stoll, a provider of supported housing for veterans, has agreed to sell the majority of its Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions site in Fulham to the Chelsea FC ownership group.

The charity received 13 bids for the land and held a nine-week consultation before agreeing the sale to the Premier League club's owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.

Completion is expected in early 2024 at a price estimated to be in the region of £80m, according to reports.

Stoll chief executive Will Campbell-Wroe said: “The veterans are the heart of this organisation and we continue, as we have always done, to act in the best interests of the charity and its beneficiaries. The Chelsea FC ownership group’s offer enables us to limit uncertainty for residents and offer support over a longer period of time.

"The site at Fulham is just not fit for purpose for the long-term and while this is a difficult time for our residents, it is something we must do, to enable us to support veterans now and in the future. We are enhancing our robust support programme for our residents during this process and our commitment to them will continue to be at the forefront of all we do at Stoll.” 

Chelsea was formed in 1905 and success in recent decades has seen it outgrow the 40,000 seater Stamford Bridge.

Redevelopment, which could begin in 2025, would see the club move to a temporary home, with Fulham's nearby Craven Cottage, Wembley Stadium, West Ham's London Stadium and Twickenham possible options.

Chelsea have enjoyed massive success in the last 20 years, winning multiple league and Champions League titles, but last season was a difficult one under new ownership as they finished 12th, their worst in almost three decades.