WEST HAM have been handed an unexpected opportunity to buy the London Stadium after Mayor Sadiq Khan said he would consider any credible proposal for the ground.
Khan has opened the door to the Hammers taking ownership of their current home after years of problems surrounding the publicly subsidised venue.
The Mayor said he would consider a bid from the club provided it offered value for taxpayers and protected the public interest.
His comments came in a letter to Labour London Assembly member Bassam Mahfouz, who had urged him to explore the possibility of selling the stadium to West Ham.
a year to operate, according to figures reported by the London Assembly and stadium bosses.
Khan said: “I have always been clear that we would consider any credible proposal for the stadium, provided it offers value for taxpayers, protects the public interest and preserves the wider economic, social and sporting benefits the venue delivers for London.”
The Mayor also pointed to an improvement in relations between West Ham and the stadium’s operator.
He said the stadium team had “welcomed recent improvements” in its relationship with the club’s ownership and leadership.
That comes amid significant changes behind the scenes at West Ham.
is set to increase his stake in the club to 46 per cent, which would make him the Hammers’ largest shareholder.
down from the West Ham board, while vice-chair Karren Brady has left the club.
Khan acknowledged speculation over whether the changes in West Ham’s ownership could lead to the club revisiting its current agreement for the stadium.
He said: “Clearly, the ownership of the club is a matter for the club’s shareholders.
“We are committed to maintaining a constructive relationship with the club’s ownership and leadership.”
West Ham currently pay just over £2million a year to use the former Olympic Stadium under a 99-year agreement signed when Boris Johnson was Mayor of London.
The deal has proved controversial, with the Greater London Authority covering the stadium’s operating costs.
The financial pressure increased after West Ham were relegated from the Premier League to the Championship, with their rent reduced under the terms of the agreement.
Stadium bosses have previously warned that the venue’s finances remain challenging, with an operating loss of around £19million recorded or expected for the 2025/26 financial year.
Mahfouz said the current situation meant it was important to consider whether selling the stadium could provide better value for Londoners.
He said: “If there is any credible proposal that protects the stadium’s future and gives Londoners better value for money, we should be prepared to explore it.”
For now, there is no indication that West Ham have formally made an offer but Khan’s comments leave the door open for the club to explore taking control of their 68,013-capacity home.
