Federico Chiesa has been left out of Liverpool’s Champions League squad for the group stage of the 2025/26 season.
The Italian winger, who many expected to leave this summer but stayed at Anfield, was the notable omission when Liverpool announced their 22-man List A squad on Wednesday.
Liverpool could not register a full 25 players because of Uefa’s homegrown rules. Only 17 places are available for non-homegrown players on List A, meaning Arne Slot had to make a tough call. Chiesa was the player left out, while Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo and 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha all made the cut.
Uefa rules state clubs must have at least eight locally trained players in their squad. If they fall short the overall squad size is reduced. A locally trained player is someone who spent three years at an English academy between the ages of 15 and 21.
Liverpool therefore named 22 senior players for List A, with Trey Nyoni and Jayden Danns included on List B, which is for academy players born after 1 January 2004 who have been with the club since their 15th birthday. Ngumoha, who joined last summer, does not qualify as homegrown and so had to be registered in the senior squad.
Chiesa has played in all three opening league games this season, but did so as a substitute in each match. He scored off the bench against Bournemouth in August and has started just one Premier League game since his arrival at the club. He could still be added to the Champions League squad if Liverpool progress to the knockout stages, when squads can be changed.
Liverpool face a demanding group phase with Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and Qarabag, plus away trips to Galatasaray, Eintracht Frankfurt, Inter Milan and Marseille.
Liverpool’s Champions League squad (List A): Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman, Gomez, Endo, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Bradley, Leoni, Robertson, Frimpong, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Gravenberch, Isak, Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike, Ngumoha.
