Chelsea make SHOCK changes to Champions League squad

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 3 Feb 2023 16:50 GMT
• 3 min read

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been removed from Chelsea's Champions League squad list on UEFA's official website, while there is no space for Benoit Badiashile despite his positive start at Stamford Bridge.

Neither Chelsea nor UEFA have released an official statement at this point, but it was already understood that Chelsea wouldn't be able to register all of their January signings for European competition this season.

The Blues spent another €330 million under Todd Boehly this winter, acquiring eight players: Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke, Malo Gusto, Andrey Santos and David Datro Fofana.

READ: How Chelsea will line up after €330m January transfer splurge

But only the first three of those - Fernandez, Mudryk and Felix - feature in Chelsea's squad list on UEFA's website, meaning €128m-worth of new talent has been left behind.

While Gusto remains on loan at Lyon for the rest of this season, Badiashile's omission might sting the most for the player, the former Monaco centre-back having settled in quickly, his form giving rise to speculation that the Blues are already ready to part ways with Kalidou Koulibaly, who arrived from Napoli last summer.

No-bameyang

As for players whose names have been removed, Jorginho's was inevitable after the Italy midfielder completed a £12m move to Arsenal. But the same can't be said for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had two goals and an assist in the group stage.

READ: Ziyech, Aubameyang & EIGHT players on Chelsea's transfer list

The former Arsenal captain was linked with a swift return to Barcelona this winter having fallen out of favour under Graham Potter, but the move never materialised with Barca unable to register the same player twice in one season per La Liga rules.

The squad includes three young players who were on the B list in Armando Borja, Lewis Hall and Charlie Webster. Carney Chukwuemeka, 19, was already on the A list.

Chelsea will face another of Aubameyang's former clubs in Borussia Dortmund in the last 16, with the first leg at the Signal Iduna Park on 15 February before the return game at Stamford Bridge on 7 March.