Chelsea are planning to stay at Stamford Bridge until the end of the 2019-20 season because of delays to the start of structural work on their new stadium. The revised timetable is a setback for the club in their plan to redevelop the site into a 60,000-seat arena, but they are confident of being able to return in three years and open their new ground in the summer of 2023.

Chelsea had hoped that their rebuilt stadium would open for the start of the 2021-22 season when Herzog & De Meuron’s design was revealed two years ago, but delays in their planning application and essential infrastructure work have led to the planned opening date slipping back two years to the start of the 2023-24 season.