Chelsea’s return to the Champions League marks an exciting new chapter under manager Enzo Maresca. The squad list is clean, youthful, and full of promise. Let’s break it down in a way that’s easy to enjoy and explains what really matters: who’s in, who’s out, and why.
Chelsea Champions League- Road to Knockout :
The journey of Chelsea in Champions League begins with a fixture against Bayern at Allianz Arena. The Blues will welcome Benfica at home just less than two weeks. They will play Ajax after that in England.
Early November sees a midweek journey to Qarabag before the Stamford Bridge lights up once more for a blockbuster visit of Barcelona on 25 November.
The festive season sees Chelsea travel to Atalanta. Then they will welcome Cypriot newcomers Pafos to West London. Chelsea will be ending the league phase of Champions League against Napoli.
Clear Structure: List A and List B
UEFA rules say each team can register up to 25 senior players in List A, with at least eight homegrown—of whom four must have been trained at the club. Chelsea’s List A contains 23 names. They surprisingly left two spots empty, including one non-homegrown slot.
List B is for under-21 players with at least two years at the club since age 15. Only three youngsters made it there: Josh Acheampong, Romeo Lavia, and Tyrique George.
Who made it to the List A?
Goalkeepers:
Robert Sanchez
Filip Jorgensen
Robert Sanchez is going to be the obvious first choice keeper for Enzo Maresca. There is no point to change the main goalkeeper in big matches. Filip Jorgensen can get some minutes against weaker sides or in case of emergency.
Defenders:
Tosin Adarabioyo
Benoit Badiashile
Trevoh Chalobah
Levi Colwill
Marc Cucurella
Wesley Fofana
Malo Gusto
Jorrel Hato
Reece James
Out of all defenders present in the squad, Reece James has the experience of lifting the UCL trophy. The defense is stacked with many important players. Cucurella and Fofana will share experience with other youngsters. New young arrival, Jorrel Hato is an interesting addition in the squad.
Midfielders:
Moises Caicedo
Dario Essugo
Enzo Fernandez
Andrey Santos
Cole Palmer
The midfield of Chelsea is quite young. But experience doesn’t always come with age. Enzo and Palmer will be leading Maresca’s midfield with their grit and creativity. Caicedo will play a crucial role in the defensive midfield by winning balls.
Forwards:
Alejandro Garnacho
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens
Marc Guiu
Pedro Neto
Joao Pedro
Estevao Willian
Several new faces have joined Chelsea who will contribute to scoring goals. Chelsea fans are eagerly waiting to see the Joga Bonito of Estevao and Joao Pedro in the UCL nights. Garnacho joined the Blues few days ago and will be playing this European competition.
In total, that’s 23 players which is close to the full limit but missing two slots.
Who’s on List B (the youth list)?
The under-21 squad includes:
Josh Acheampong
Romeo Lavia
A curious exclusion: Facundo Buonanotte, a recent loan signing, wasn’t included. He arrived too late and didn’t meet UEFA’s under-21 homegrown rules.
Some Notable Omissions:
Buonanotte, despite speaking of his Champions League hopes, couldn’t be included—not eligible for List A or B.
Gaga Slonina was also left off—possibly due to eligibility rules.
Levi Colwill remains on List A, even while injured—another curious but strategic move.
Why the Odd Gaps?
Though two of “List A” spots remain unused, it’s not due to financial constraints. Chelsea seems to be managing a blend of youth, experience, and eligibility. UEFA’s rules around homegrown versus club-trained players are what shaped most decisions.
Author’s Insight: What does it mean for Chelsea
This squad reflects a clear vision: rely on dynamic young talents, while keeping experienced core defenders and creative midfielders. The focus looks to be on long-term development and squad flexibility.
Youth: Names like Gittens, Hato, Acheampong, Lavia, and Estêvão signal a club investing in the future.
Experience: Players such as Caicedo, Fernández, Sánchez, and Cucurella bring a steadying presence.
•Tactical balance: Versatile midfielders and attackers give Maresca options to shift shapes mid-game.
