London mayor Sadiq Khan urged to sell London Stadium to West Ham amid “disastrous” £19m verdict

West Ham United have been urged to buy the London Stadium as concerns grow over the financial burden of the club’s long-term tenancy on taxpayers.

A London Assembly member has called for a sale, with the venue reportedly losing around £19m a year.

Sadiq Khan told to sell London Stadium to West Ham

Labour's Bassam Mahfouz has written to London Mayor Sadiq Khan urging him to consider selling the London Stadium to West Ham, describing the existing rental agreement as “disastrous” for taxpayers, via the BBC.

The venue is operated by London Stadium LLP, which is wholly owned by the Greater London Authority, meaning its reported annual losses of around £19m are ultimately covered by public funds.

West Ham's 99-year lease, signed in 2013, requires the club to pay up to £2.5m annually in rent following its relegation to the Championship. However, the stadium operator remains responsible for stewarding, policing and pitch maintenance.

Attempts to increase revenue include an application to Newham Council to raise the number of concerts hosted annually from 10 to 24.

However, the club retains priority during the football season, with stadium chief Lyn Gardner previously telling the assembly that converting the venue back into a football ground after other events can take two weeks.

Mahfouz believes the existing agreement cannot be renegotiated and has called for a sale as an alternative, while insisting athletics should continue to be accommodated at the venue, which was built for the 2012 Olympic Games.

A spokesperson for Khan said the mayor would consider any credible proposal that offered value for taxpayers and protected the public interest. West Ham declined to comment.

FGG says: London Stadium sale could reshape West Ham’s long-term future

The proposal to sell the London Stadium to West Ham highlights the financial challenges surrounding the existing tenancy, with taxpayers ultimately bearing the cost of the venue's reported annual losses.

A sale could provide a different ownership model, but any agreement would need to address the stadium's wider public role, including its continued use for athletics.

The club's long-term lease and the restrictions surrounding concerts also underline the complexity of finding a solution that works for both West Ham and the public.

A sale remains only a proposal at this stage, with no agreement announced and the future ownership of the London Stadium still uncertain.