UEFA Confirms Major Champions League Rule Change Ahead of Tournament Kick-Off

UEFA have introduced a late amendment to squad regulations in European competitions, just days before the Champions League begins — a move that could benefit several Premier League players who were initially left out.

Europe’s elite competition gets underway next week, with a record six English clubs featuring in the Champions League. Opening fixtures include Chelsea’s trip to face Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich, reigning Premier League champions Liverpool hosting Atlético Madrid, and Newcastle welcoming Barcelona to St James’ Park.

Alongside Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham, these sides will compete in the Champions League, while Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest enter the Europa League, and Crystal Palace feature in the Conference League. Under the new rule, clubs will now be permitted to alter their submitted squads during the group stage.

In a statement on Thursday, UEFA said:
“The Executive Committee approved an amendment to the 2025/26 UEFA men’s club competitions regulations to allow the temporary replacement of a maximum of one outfield player with long-term injury or illness during the league phase, up to and including matchday six. The reasoning for the change is to ensure squad lists are not unfairly reduced and to protect players from additional workload pressure.”

Matchday six marks the final fixture of the Conference League league phase, while the Champions League and Europa League conclude their league phases with matchdays seven and eight respectively in the new year.

The rule could allow Chelsea to replace injured forward Liam Delap with new signing Facundo Buonanotte, after Delap was sidelined by a hamstring problem.

Other high-profile absentees from Champions League squads include Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa, Tottenham striker Mathys Tel, and Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus, who is also recovering from injury.

In addition, UEFA confirmed that the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, home of Atlético, will stage the 2027 Champions League final. It will be the stadium’s second hosting of the showpiece, having staged Liverpool’s victory over Tottenham in the 2019 all-Premier League final.

The 2027 Women’s Champions League final will take place at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland.