Millwall Football Club is proud to confirm that all lease agreements with Lewisham Council have now been formally signed – providing a strong foundation for the Club’s continued future at The Den for generations to come.
Following extensive collaboration, the Club and Lewisham Council have finalised the signing of all legal documentation granting Millwall a new 999-year lease across The Den and surrounding land. This landmark agreement provides long-term certainty, protects the Club’s historic home and creates a platform for ambitious and sustainable growth.
With the legal framework now in place, Millwall can move forward with plans to enhance the matchday experience, expand year-round use of its facilities and play a leading role in the wider regeneration of Bermondsey. The agreement aligns with Lewisham’s vision for the borough and enables the Club to invest with clarity and confidence.
Importantly, the lease provides protective space for the Millwall Community Trust, enabling it to extend its reach even further into the local community with a brand-new, dedicated facility at The Den. This long-term stability will allow the Trust to broaden its programmes, deepen its impact and continue delivering life-changing work across Lewisham and the surrounding areas.
The Club extends its sincere thanks to Lewisham Council for its constructive partnership throughout the process and looks forward to continuing to work together to deliver lasting benefits for the local community.
Wider support shown throughout the contract negotiations between all parties over the past eighteen months has been critical, as well as over a decade of discussions and negotiations. That support has come from within the Club, from fan groups and from individuals who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help facilitate today’s outcome, to which the Club owes a huge debt of gratitude for that support.
Speaking on this historic milestone, Chairman James Berylson said: “This is a defining moment for Millwall Football Club and Millwall Community Trust. Securing a 999-year lease at The Den gives us the stability and certainty every club needs to build for the long term.
"So much hard work, time and dedication has gone into reaching this moment after announcing the agreement in principle back in May 2024. I would like to thank Mayor Brenda Dacres OBE, and all at Lewisham Council, for their positive and collaborative approach. Together, we have secured an outcome that safeguards our home while supporting the wider interests of the borough.
"I would also like to thank the staff of Millwall Football Club and Millwall Community Trust, as well as many supporters and advisers, who have put their heart and soul into this. Their effort and commitment has been so important throughout this process, and I appreciate every single one of them.
"The Den and Millwall Community Trust is at the heart of who we are. This agreement ensures that future generations of supporters and wider community will continue to call it home. It allows us to move forward with meaningful regeneration and long-term investment – creating jobs, enhancing facilities and delivering tangible benefits for local residents.
"Collectively our ambition is clear: to build a strong, sustainable future for Millwall, on and off the pitch. But above all, to dream boldly, to turn vision into reality, and to unlock the full potential of this great football club.
"My family shares that belief with our incredible supporters. This agreement gives us the platform to make it happen.”
Mayor of Lewisham Brenda Dacres OBE, said, “We’re delighted to have reached this agreement and I want to thank Millwall Football Club and Millwall Community Trust for the constructive and collaborative way we have worked together to get here.
"This partnership has been central to enabling these once-in-a-generation improvements for our community, including much-needed affordable homes, new jobs, improved public spaces and better community facilities that local people can benefit from year-round. “Importantly, it safeguards space for Millwall Community Trust, securing a purpose-built facility that will enable it to continue delivering vital programmes for young people and families in Lewisham and beyond for many years to come."
