Could Chelsea move to a stadium in Earl's Court?

Chelsea continue to leave open the slim possibility of moving to a stadium on the Earl's Court site, despite recent developments making it increasingly difficult.

The official line remains that all options are being explored. These include demolishing and rebuilding the current Stamford Bridge stadium, with the 40-acre Earl's Court site regarded as the most prominent alternative.

However, a £10bn regeneration project by the Earl's Court Development Company (ECDC) has now received its second planning approval from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham granted its approval in November.

Reports have questioned ECDC's ability to fund the project, and whether a stadium could be added to the plans at the 11th hour remains a topic of discussion. When asked to respond, an ECDC spokesperson told BBC Sport: "Securing a resolution to grant planning permission in both boroughs puts the Earl's Court project firmly on the path to delivery.

"This is a locally supported masterplan which will transform this part of London, creating a new neighbourhood of homes, jobs, culture and open spaces. There is no opportunity for a football stadium as part of the approved masterplan now or in the future.

"We will now be working with our public and private sector partners to move into the next stages, accelerating the delivery of the homes and jobs which London so urgently needs."

There is political and local backing for ECDC's plans, and construction is expected to begin in 2026.

Chelsea have yet to officially comment on the latest developments but remain committed to upgrading their 40,343-capacity Stamford Bridge as part of the terms agreed when Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital bought the club from Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in 2022.