Chelsea’s release of their 2025/26 Champions League squad sparked plenty of debate, particularly around the decision to include Levi Colwill, who is currently sidelined with injury.
Some wondered why a spot was “wasted” on an unavailable player, especially when others like Facundo Buonanotte were excluded. But the reality is simple: Colwill’s inclusion changes nothing for anyone else.
The Four Club-Trained Player Rule
UEFA requires every club to register four “club-trained” players in their 25-man List A squad.
Chelsea, however, only have three that qualify: Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, and Levi Colwill. Without Colwill, Chelsea would drop to just two club-trained players, which means UEFA would cut the maximum squad size from 24 down to 23 players.
In other words, Colwill’s spot wasn’t taken from Buonanotte, or Slonina. If he hadn’t been included, that slot wouldn’t even exist.
Why Not Add an Academy Name?
Some fans have suggested promoting someone like Josh Acheampong or Tyrique George to the A list.
But there’s no benefit in doing so.
Both are under 21 and have been at the club long enough to qualify for List B, which allows them to play in the competition without using up a valuable A-list slot. Moving them onto the A list would be wasteful.
Future-Proofing the Squad
Another big reason Colwill’s inclusion makes sense is the flexibility it gives Chelsea later in the season.
Clubs are allowed to make three changes to List A when moving from the group stage into the knockouts. If Colwill had been left off now, Chelsea would have been forced to use one of those precious three changes to re-register him once he’s fit again.
By naming him now, Maresca avoids that problem entirely.
It means the Blues can use those three slots on genuine new additions in January, such as Buonanotte, Slonina, or even a new signing, without worrying about finding room for Colwill.
Nothing Lost, Everything Gained
Importantly, Chelsea still have a vacant club-trained slot, so even with Colwill included, the squad isn’t blocked. His presence is essentially a placeholder that protects Chelsea from complications later in the season.
So while it may seem odd to name an injured player, it’s actually a shrewd bit of squad management.
Colwill doesn’t prevent anyone else from being selected, and his inclusion gives Chelsea maximum flexibility down the line.
In short: it’s a no-brainer.
