BREAKING: Chelsea's New Signings May Miss UEFA Champions League
Chelsea’s long-awaited return to the Champions League could be met with a surprising setback, as new signings including Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Gittens, Estavos risk being left out of Enzo Maresca’s European squad for the 2025/26 season.
Despite a strong domestic campaign that secured a top-four finish and a triumphant Club World Cup run, the Blues are now entangled in UEFA’s strict financial settlement terms that could jeopardize the registration of new signings.
UEFA has reportedly warned Chelsea that unless they meet specific financial criteria by the September 2 deadline, several summer arrivals, including Pedro, may not be eligible for Europe’s elite competition.
The ruling stems from a settlement agreement Chelsea entered into earlier this summer after falling short of UEFA’s financial regulations. Unlike the Premier League, UEFA applies narrower guidelines, only considering revenue from players who were included in last season’s European squad lists.
This technicality poses a major problem for Chelsea. Although the club successfully offloaded high-profile names such as Joao Felix, Djordje Petrovic, Armando Broja, and Lesley Ugochukwu, those departures will not count towards UEFA’s assessment. Instead, only sales of players who featured in the Europa Conference League last season—like Noni Madueke and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall—will strengthen Chelsea’s financial case.
For Maresca, who has already shown his tactical brilliance in his short stint at Stamford Bridge, the looming decision could force tough calls. To register Pedro and other summer recruits, Chelsea may have to sacrifice established names such as Nicolas Jackson or Christopher Nkunku, who were part of the Conference League squad in 2024/25. Reports suggest the Blues are prioritizing permanent exits rather than temporary loan moves to quickly free up financial space.
While Chelsea’s B list for homegrown youngsters faces no restrictions, the A list—limited to 25 senior players—remains the critical hurdle. With the clock ticking, Stamford Bridge executives must act swiftly to ensure their marquee signings don’t watch Europe’s biggest stage from the sidelines.
If Chelsea fail to find a financial solution, fans may face the shocking reality of seeing one of their brightest talents sidelined from the Champions League, despite the club’s hard-fought return to the competition.
