Chelsea Dodges Further UEFA Sanctions Over Champions League Squad Costs

London – Chelsea Football Club has successfully navigated a potential storm, with UEFA confirming that the Blues have avoided additional sanctions regarding the financial cost of their Champions League squad. This news comes as a significant relief for the club, which has been under intense scrutiny following previous breaches of financial regulations.

Back in July, Chelsea was hit with a substantial fine of €31 million (£26.9 million, $36.1 million) for excessive spending and overall squad costs. At that time, UEFA issued a stern warning: an additional €60 million sanction loomed if the club failed to reduce the cost of its European squad this summer.

Meeting UEFA’s Demands: A Summer of Strategic Exits

The pressure was on for Chelsea to report a positive transfer balance from players registered in last season’s ‘List A’ for their Conference League registration. Crucially, sales of unregistered or fringe players, such as João Félix, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Renato Veiga, did not contribute to this crucial balance. The focus was squarely on moving players who directly impacted the European squad’s financial footprint.

Fortunately for the Stamford Bridge faithful, Chelsea’s hierarchy executed a series of strategic negotiations, securing exits for several ‘List A’ players. Key departures included Noni Madueke, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Christopher Nkunku, Mathis Amougou, and Nicolas Jackson. These moves proved instrumental in helping Chelsea meet UEFA’s pre-agreed requirements, averting the threatened additional fine.

A UEFA statement, as reported by the Daily Mail’s Kieran Gill, confirmed the club’s compliance: “The squad list submitted fulfilled the criteria of the settlement agreement and it was therefore already reviewed and approved before publication on UEFA’s website.”

This successful financial maneuvering has allowed Chelsea to register all their new signings, forming a robust 23-man European squad for the upcoming campaign.

Chelsea’s 2025–26 Champions League Squad Revealed

The confirmed squad for Chelsea’s Champions League ambitions is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Robert Sánchez, Filip Jörgensen

Defenders: Marc Cucurella, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoît Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Jorell Hato, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana

Midfielders: Enzo Fernández, Cole Palmer, Jamie Gittens, Dário Essugo, Andrey Santos, Moisés Caicedo

Forwards: Pedro Neto, Liam Delap, João Pedro, Marc Guiu, Estêvão, Alejandro Garnacho

Notable Absences and ‘List B’ Inclusions

While the main squad is set, several promising talents, including Roméo Lavia, Tyrique George, and Josh Acheampong, are eligible to play after being included on ‘List B’. This list is specifically for players 21 and under who have been at the club for at least two years, offering flexibility for academy prospects to feature throughout the season. Third-choice goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina is not included in either list.

Perhaps the most surprising omission from the primary squad is Deadline Day signing Facundo Buonanotte. The Brighton & Hove Albion loanee, who expressed his excitement about playing in the Champions League upon his arrival, will unfortunately not be part of the European campaign this time around.

Additionally, Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi, and David Datro Fofana, all of whom remained at Stamford Bridge after failing to secure summer moves, have also been left out of the Champions League squad, highlighting the tough decisions made to adhere to UEFA’s financial fair play regulations.

This successful navigation of UEFA’s financial rules underscores Chelsea’s commitment to compliance and sets the stage for their upcoming Champions League challenge, free from the shadow of further financial penalties. For more details on the UEFA sanctions, read the official statements.