Official: Inter confirm squad list for 2026-27 Champions League campaign

As Serie A clubs Inter and Roma finalized their Champions League submissions without filling their allotted squad capacities due to strict homegrown player constraints, high-profile omissions dominated preparations elsewhere in Europe. Across the continent, elite managers confronted rigid UEFA registration rules by leaving fit or recovering senior stars off their league phase lists entirely.

UEFA regulations permit clubs to register a maximum of 25 players on List A, requiring at least two goalkeepers and eight locally trained players — defined as individuals based in their respective national association for at least three uninterrupted years between the ages of 15 and 21. Clubs can supplement these lists with an unlimited List B for youth players born on or after January 1, 2005, who have spent an uninterrupted period of at least two years at the club. These structural thresholds caught out several Italian sides operating under demographic limitations.

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Inter Milan named only 23 players in their List A squad rather than the maximum 25, a reduction forced by possessing just seven locally-trained players instead of the mandated eight, according to Yahoo Sports. Inter's seven qualifying players are Ivan Provedel, Raffaele Di Gennaro, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, Mattia Marello, Nicolo Barella, and Piotr Zielinski — the latter qualifying having joined Udinese at age 16 and remained in Italy since. Meanwhile, summer arrivals John Stones, Curtis Jones, Aleksandar Stankovic, and Djed Spence were included in Inter's senior selection, while 21-year-old Italy international Pio Esposito and Stankovic were slotted into List B due to age and youth tenure criteria.

Roma avoided leaving List A spots unfilled through outright shortages, meeting the requirement of eight locally trained players, Pierluigi Gollini, Giorgio De Marzi, Gianluca Mancini, Emanuele Lulli, Daniele Ghilardi, Bryan Cristante, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Niccolo Pisilli, according to Yahoo Canada Sports. Even so, Gian Piero Gasperini's side left their overall squad size short of the 25-player maximum while registering all six of their summer acquisitions, including Santiago Castro, Rodrigo Mora, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Nahuel Molina, Leonardo Balerdi, and Marten De Roon, alongside young additions Emanuele Lulli and Antonio Arena.

Beyond Italy, tactical choices and fitness questions resulted in glaring exclusions. At Real Madrid, manager Jose Mourinho omitted left-back Ferland Mendy from his 25-man selection following the summer signing of Marc Cucurella, as reported by Planet Football. Although Mendy is sidelined with an injury expected to heal later in the month, the inclusion of similarly injured teammates Eder Militao and Rodrygo indicated the decision extended beyond medical status.

In England, Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola left out forward Federico Chiesa and midfielder Wataru Endo, according to reports outlined by LFC Live. Chiesa, who is recovering from a muscle injury sustained in August and anticipated to return to training during the international break, missed out on the European squad for the second consecutive year. Endo, who has recovered from his own extended absence and made just 87 appearances since joining in 2023, was similarly bypassed in favor of James McConnell, leaving the 33-year-old midfielder facing a diminished role as he plays out the remainder of his contract.

With the summer transfer window closed across most European nations and the registration deadline having passed, squads are locked in for the opening phase of the tournament. The first wave of league phase fixtures begins next week, forcing managers to navigate immediate tactical pressures with rosters constrained by homegrown quotas and high-stakes exclusions.

Continental Selection Pressures

As detailed by Yahoo Sports and Yahoo Canada Sports, all participating clubs faced a fixed submission deadline following the closure of the summer transfer window across most European nations. While Italian sides wrestled with homegrown quotas that forced truncated registrations, English and Spanish participants navigated tactical exclusions and injury recoveries. Planet Football and LFC Live note that high-profile casualties included established internationals left off List A rosters entirely.

The closing of the registration window locks squads for the opening stage of the tournament. With the first wave of league phase fixtures scheduled to begin next week, the next step requires managers to use their constrained rosters under immediate tactical pressure.