Arsenal consider Emirates Stadium expansion to 70,000 capacity

Arsenal are exploring the possibility of expanding the Emirates Stadium in a move that could restore its status as the biggest club ground in London.

The Emirates Stadium has a 60,700 capacity, placing it behind Tottenham’s and West Ham’s homes, which were built after Arsenal moved from Highbury in 2006. There is believed to be an appetite from the club’s American owner, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), to increase that to 70,000, which would significantly boost match-day revenues, and there are more than 100,000 supporters on the waiting list for season tickets.

Arsenal set up a working group last year to examine the feasibility of any redevelopment, with sources indicating that discussions are continuing and that no decision has yet been made. A number of options are understood to have been looked at, including changing the gradient of the stands to allow the addition of thousands more seats, or a much smaller upgrade that would mean less disruption.

It remains to be seen whether a larger-scale redevelopment would mean Arsenal having to play matches elsewhere – something the club avoided when they left Highbury – after a report in the Telegraph on Tuesday claimed a temporary move to Wembley could be on the cards. Arsenal played their home Champions League fixtures at the national stadium between 1998 and 2000.

It is understood that Arsenal did not apply to host matches at Euro 2028, with a potential redevelopment of the Emirates Stadium in mind, while the co-chair Josh Kroenke said in July that an upgrade was being discussed.

“It would be premature to talk about any plans in depth, but the internal conversations are starting to occur about it,” he said. “It is not an easy renovation, but we see the possibilities of what’s there.”

Arsenal spent more than £250m in the summer transfer window and KSE is said to be ready to commit more funds to upgrade the Emirates Stadium, having made significant changes behind the scenes in recent weeks. After the surprise departure of the vice-chair Tim Lewis, Stan and Josh Kroenke will remain as co‑chairs, with the managing director, Richard Garlick, promoted to chief executive and the KSE representatives Kelly Blaha, Otto Maly and the film producer and director Ben Winston – son of Prof Robert Winston – joining the club’s board as nonexecutive directors.

Maly is a commercial real estate and development expert who was involved in KSE’s construction of the 100,000-seat SoFi Stadium – home of the Los Angeles Rams American football team – and could play a role in any expansion of the Emirates Stadium.

David Raya, meanwhile, has become the latest first-team regular to agree an improved contract, with the Spain goalkeeper understood to have been given a pay rise on the £100,000-a-week deal he signed when he joined from Brentford last summer.

The 30-year-old’s contract still expires in 2028 but the improved salary reflects his status as an important member of Mikel Arteta’s side having won the Premier League’s Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper in successive seasons.

Leandro Trossard has also signed an improved deal that expires in 2027, while Jurriën Timber and Bukayo Saka are in talks over extensions.

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