A compression assembly for distributing an external compression force to a solid oxide fuel cell stack, the compression assembly comprising a force distributing plate, and a force distributing layer so that when said compression assembly is mounted together with the solid oxide fuel cell stack, the external compression force is exerted on the force distributing plate and the force distributing layer is provided next to a surface of at least one end plate, opposite to the surface facing the solid oxide fuel cells. The force distributing layer has a rigid frame extending next to a region of a sealing area of the solid oxide fuel cell stack. One or more resilient elements are placed inside the space enclosed by the rigid frame and positioned next to an electrochemically active area of the solid oxide fuel cell stack, so that when the compression assembly mounted with the solid oxide fuel cell is in use, the force distributing layer provides an unequally pressure distribution across the region of the sealing area and the electrochemically active area.