Chelsea confirm Champions League squad as five new signings axed by Potter

03 February 2023 , 16:11

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Chelsea confirm Champions League squad as five new signings axed by Potter

Chelsea have left £30m January signing Benoit Badiashile and summer arrival Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of their Champions League squad after Graham Potter was forced to discount a majority of last month's new recruits from European selection..

But the head coach has included loanee Joao Felix ahead of the round of 16 tie against Borussia Dortmund, with the first leg set to take place in north-west Germany on February 15.

The Blues were only allowed to add three of their eight new signings to the 25-man A List - regardless of Jorginho’s £12m sale to Arsenal freeing up one spot. They had only named 24 players for the group stage, with out of favour Aubameyang the pre-January player to be cut.

The B List allows an unlimited number of young players but they must have spent at least two years at their club.

British record signing Enzo Fernandez, a £106m arrival from Benfica on deadline day, was always going to be included.

Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush

Badiashile has been axed by the Blues (Getty Images)

And despite the decision not being based on the size of the fee paid by the club last month, the next most expensive recruit, £88m winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, was always going to be included.

On the other hand youngsters Andrey Santos, a central midfielder from Vasco da Gama still subject to a work permit, and David Datro Fofana, a striker from Molde, were obvious candidates to be omitted.

So too was teenage right back Malo Gusto, a £26.5m arrival from Lyon, and winger Noni Madueke, who cost £30m from PSV Eindhoven, because of the existing senior options available in their positions.

But that still left Potter with one more arrival to leave out - with Badiashile being left out despite impressing in his first two appearances.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been a disastrous signing for Chelsea (Getty Images)

Felix may have gotten the nod because there are fewer centre forward options compared to centre backs - especially with Aubameyang being omitted.

He has not been part of Potter’s plans for several weeks but was unable to leave the club because of FIFA transfer regulations prohibiting him from playing for a third club in one season and Armando Broja is out for the season with injury.

Badiashile is likely to continue in the starting XI in the league, ahead of a struggling Kalidou Koulibaly, but the 21-year-old will not be making his European bow for the club in this campaign.

Alan Smith