21 stars out of European squads including record signing and Liverpool favourite

After the summer transfer window closed for most European leagues, clubs have sent their final squads to UEFA before the start of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League

Clubs from the Premier League and abroad have named their squads for European competition this season, ruthlessly leaving out household names and big-money signings. The summer transfer window closed for the majority of leagues on the continent on Monday, as deadline day saw its typical flurry of late business.

Teams scrambled to get deals over the line and even clubs in leagues where the transfer window didn’t shut this week had a deadline to meet. Galatasaray, for example, needed to sign Ilkay Gundogan from Manchester City by midnight on Tuesday in order to include him in their ‘A List’ for the league phase of Champions League, which the Turkish giants successfully did.

Just because you’re a glamorous new signing doesn’t guarantee you a place, though. Due to UEFA only allowing clubs to include 17 non-homegrown players in their A Lists, managers have to make ruthless decisions.

Let’s run through some of the biggest names around Europe who’ve missed out.

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It is the ‘Champions’ League after all, so let’s start with Liverpool. Rio Ngumoha, who turned 17 last week, has been included at the expense of Federico Chiesa.

Both stars have enjoyed special moments already this season, with Chiesa’s late goal on the opening night against Bournemouth set to go down as one of the campaign’s most memorable moments. But it might be usurped by Ngumoha’s 100th-minute winner at Newcastle the following game.

And speaking of usurped, Chiesa has missed out on Arne Slot’s squad.

Who’ll win each European competition? Give us your prediction in the comments section.

To Chelsea now, who have – to no one’s surprise – one of the most eyebrow-raising squads. Facundo Buonanotte, who signed for the Blues on a season-long loan from Brighton a mere three days ago, has bizarrely been left out – unlike the rest of their summer additions.

Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi have also been snubbed, as they’re well and truly out of Enzo Maresca’s plans. Disasi has been omitted despite a long-term injury to fellow centre-back Levi Colwill, who has notably been included.

Speaking of injuries, there’s no place for James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski (as well as new signing Kota Takai) in Tottenham’s A List. The most surprising omission, however, is £30m star Mathys Tel.

The French striker arrived on loan from Bayern Munich in January while Ange Postecoglou was in still charge and his move was made permanent this summer. But new boss Thomas Frank has left him out of Spurs’ squad alongside Radu Dragusin and Yves Bissouma, the latter of whom has been linked with a departure.

But there is hope for youngsters like Tel and Buonanotte, who can be named on their clubs’ ‘B List’ which must be submitted by no later than midnight the day before a game. Teams can register an unlimited number of players for the season if they were born on or after January 1, 2004.

Onto Arsenal and Gabriel Jesus has been omitted, as the Brazilian forward continues to work his way back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury which he sustained in January. There’s a spot for 15-year-old Max Dowman, who could become the youngest player in Champions League history, with Arsenal’s first six fixtures coming he turns 16 on New Years Eve.

While most clubs have named the maximum 25 players on their A Lists, Newcastle’s lack of ‘club-trained players’ has meant that Eddie Howe has been restricted to a squad of just 21. John Ruddy and Jamaal Lascelles, the latter of whom captained the Magpies during their 2023-24 Champions League campaign, haven’t made the cut.

Pep Guardiola had a straightforward task naming Manchester City’s squad. Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli, Tijjani Reijnders and James Trafford are in, having all joined this summer.

Heading to Italy now and Napoli have omitted Romelu Lukaku after the ex-Chelsea, West Brom, Everton and Manchester United star suffered a thigh injury during pre-season, ruling him out for at least three months. Continuing on the injury theme, Arkadiusz Milik hasn’t been named in Juventus‘ squad, 15 months after he suffered a serious knee injury for Poland, having suffered a setback during his recovery.

In the Europa League, there’ve also been some curious decisions, especially at Nottingham Forest. A total of FIVE summer signings have been omitted, including club-record buy Omari Hutchinson – who cost £37m – and Arsenal loanee Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Fans have theorised that Nuno Espirito Santo’s decisions are a direct response to his public spat with owner Evangelos Marinakis as well as his alleged rift with Edu, Forest’s newly-appointed global head of football.

Angus Gunn, Jair Cunha and Cuiabano are also missing after signing for Forest this summer. Meanwhile, Jota Silva and Taiwo Awoniyi haven’t been included amid the pair’s uncertain futures at the City Ground.

For Aston Villa, the major absence is Ross Barkley. And finally in the Conference League, Marc Guehi has been named on Crystal Palace’s A List in the wake of his failed £35m move to Liverpool on deadline day.

Of course, the January transfer window allows clubs to refresh their European squads once the league phase of three competitions has finished. Team can register a maximum of three new players by midnight on February 5, 2026.

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