Chelsea have confirmed their 23-man squad for the 2025/26 Champions League league phase, with deadline-day signing Facundo Buonanotte a surprise omission.
The Argentine midfielder, who joined on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, was not registered despite expectations he would provide additional depth in attack.
UEFA rules allow clubs to submit a 25-man squad but require four “club-trained” players. Chelsea were only able to name Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill, leaving them one short of the quota and restricted to a maximum of 24 players.
Instead, the Blues opted for 23 names, leaving Buonanotte among those excluded.
The decision comes as Chelsea continue to work under strict financial regulations.
The club were fined €31m by UEFA earlier this summer and instructed to maintain a positive transfer balance between last season’s Conference League squad and this year’s Champions League selection.
Significant outgoings, including Noni Madueke, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, helped create space for new arrivals.
Those to make the cut include João Pedro, Liam Delap, Estevão, Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho, Dario Essugo and Jorrel Hato, all signed in a busy summer window.
However, Buonanotte joins Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi, David Datro Fofana and Gabriel Slonina in being left out of the registered squad. Mykhailo Mudryk is also excluded as he faces FA anti-doping charges, which he denies.
Players such as Romeo Lavia, Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong were not included on List A but remain eligible via List B, which covers under-21 academy-trained talent.
Lavia is still recovering from an injury sustained during the Club World Cup and has yet to feature under Enzo Maresca this season.
Chelsea will begin their campaign away to Bayern Munich on September 17, followed by group-stage clashes against Benfica, Ajax, Qarabag, Barcelona, Atalanta, Pafos and Napoli.
Maresca can make up to three changes to the squad should Chelsea progress to the knockout rounds.
Chelsea’s Champions League Fixtures (League Phase)
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Bayern Munich vs Chelsea — Sept 17, 2025, 8pm
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Chelsea vs Benfica — Sept 30, 2025, 8pm
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Chelsea vs Ajax — Oct 28, 2025, 8pm
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Qarabag vs Chelsea — Nov 5, 2025, 8pm
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Chelsea vs Barcelona — Nov 25, 2025, 8pm
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Atalanta vs Chelsea — Dec 9, 2025, 8pm
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Chelsea vs Pafos — Jan 21, 2026, 8pm
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Napoli vs Chelsea — Jan 28, 2026, 8pm
Chelsea’s Champions League Squad (List A)
Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen
Defenders: Marc Cucurella, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Jorrel Hato, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana
Midfielders: Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, Jamie Gittens, Dario Essugo, Andrey Santos, Moises Caicedo
Forwards: Pedro Neto, Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Marc Guiu, Estevao, Alejandro Garnacho
