Chelsea face Champions League registration problem

Karan Tejwani

• 1 Feb 2023 11:05 CST
• 2 min read

Chelsea had a busy transfer window in January, signing seven players, but they will face an issue in registering them for the Champions League.

The Blues spent big in the winter, signing Mykhailo Mudryk, Enzo Fernandez, Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana, Joao Felix, Andrey Santos, Malo Gusto and Noni Madueke.

In total, the Blues spent over €329 million on those players with a view towards building a long-term, sustainable team as Todd Boehly and the new ownership try to leave their mark on the team.

READ: Chelsea to sign Southampton wonderkid Morgan for £6m - Romano

But, Champions League rules for this season say they can only register three new players after the January transfer window for their squad for the knockout rounds.

Chelsea have Champions League problem

Chelsea qualified for the knockout rounds of the Champions League as group winners and will face Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 of the tournament later this month.

Of the seven players they signed this winter, Gusto has already gone back on loan to Lyon for the rest of the campaign so Chelsea won’t have an issue with him.

READ: Chelsea blame PSG for Ziyech transfer failure

Of the remaining six players, one would imagine Chelsea will want to have an attacking name on there due to their problems in that line, so Joao Felix is likely to get in.

The Blues spent over €100 million on transfers for both Mudryk and Fernandez and given their problems in midfield and lack of depth – the latter will get in with Mudryk joining him.

As a result, Detro Fofana, Madueke and Badiashile will be left disappointed and will have to wait until at least next season to make their European debuts with Chelsea.

There was a suggestion that some players under the age of 22 could get into Chelsea’s B team and could play in the competition, but that has been ruled out as it doesn’t apply to new signings.