Predictions
Chelsea have been given the all-clear by UEFA ahead of their return to the Champions League, ending concerns that Financial Fair Play (FFP) issues might derail their campaign before it even begins.
Back in July, Chelsea were fined €31m (£26.9m) by UEFA for failing to comply with FFP regulations, with an additional €60m (£51.2m) penalty hanging over the club if they did not make the required financial adjustments.
As part of their settlement agreement, the Blues were required to post a positive transfer balance from players registered on last season’s ‘List A’ in European competition. Failure to do so would have left some of Enzo Maresca’s new signings ineligible to play in the tournament this season.
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Chelsea’s Transfer Strategy Pays Off
Fortunately, Chelsea were aggressive in the summer market, breaking the Premier League record for player exits in a single transfer window. The club sanctioned several departures, most notably a number of players who had been on last season’s European squad list.
Despite spending £296m on new signings, the Blues managed to raise £314m through player sales, comfortably meeting UEFA’s pre-agreed requirements. This financial balancing act was critical to ensuring the team’s eligibility for the Champions League.
UEFA Give the Green Light
Chelsea officially submitted their squad for the 2025/26 Champions League on Wednesday. The following day, Kieran Gill of the Daily Mail confirmed that UEFA had reviewed and approved the list.
UEFA statement:
“The squad list submitted fulfilled the criteria of the settlement agreement and it was therefore already reviewed and approved before publication on UEFA’s website.”
This is a major boost for Chelsea and their supporters, who can now focus entirely on the football rather than off-field complications.
Big Test Awaits
Chelsea’s first Champions League match comes in under two weeks with a mouthwatering clash away to Bayern Munich. The tie carries extra intrigue as they will face former striker Nicolas Jackson, who sealed a dramatic deadline-day move to the German champions.
Interestingly, Facundo Buonanotte did not make the squad, despite expressing his excitement about playing in Europe during his unveiling as a Chelsea player. Supporters will also be hoping Cole Palmer recovers from his injury in time to feature in the crucial group-stage opener.
With financial issues resolved and UEFA approval secured, all eyes are now on Maresca’s men to see how they fare on their long-awaited return to Europe’s top competition.
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