Tottenham Hotspur agrees deal to play matches at Wembley

Tottenham Hotspur FC has secured an option to play its home league and cup games at Wembley Stadium while work on its new ground is being completed.

The agreement forms part of the deal the Premier League club has reached with the football Association (FA) to play next season’s Champions League matches at the 90,000-capacity stadium.

After qualifying for the Champions League through a third-place finish, the club is required to move to another venue in order to meet UEFA requirements as work will begin on the White Hart Lane site over the course of the 2016/17 season.

Populous are designing Tottenham’s new ground – which is expected to be ready for the 2018/19 season, assuming local infrastructure such as transport is developed in time. The North London club will have to vacate the facility during the 2017/18 season, in which it looks increasingly likely to play at the national stadium.

Money generated by increased use of Wembley Stadium will be ploughed into “improving coaching and grassroots facilities and growing participation”, according to FA chief executive Martin Glenn.

“Having Tottenham at Wembley for big European nights next season is a welcome opportunity for us to further the stadium’s position as a world-class venue,” he added. “As well as helping the club and its fans, it will benefit London and English football in general with our commitment to reinvesting all profits back into the game.”

Tottenham chair Daniel Levy added that the move would give supporters more opportunities to see the team play live due to the increase in capacity.

Arsenal – Tottenham’s North London rival – also played Champions League matches at the old Wembley Stadium between 1998 and 2000 as its then Highbury stadium had limited capacity.