The squad for Chelsea’s defence of their UEFA Youth League trophy has been announced, with an interesting inclusion regarding a youngster currently on loan.
Jeremie Boga, who is currently on loan at Ligue 1 side Rennes with a potentially staggering buy-out clause agreed with the club, is included in the 39-man squad; which would suggest the Blues have a possible recall clause in place for January.
The tournament begins next week, with the youth side having the same group-stage schedule as the senior side, similarly to last season’s competition.
However, the competition has been doubled to 64 teams this season, so the youth sides of other European domestic champions are now able to participate; a contrast to last season when only youth sides with senior sides in the senior Champions League could compete.
The regulations allow for a 40-man squad list, with Chelsea choosing to include several players from the winning Youth League campaign last season, as well as the aforementioned Boga and seven schoolboys.
Regulations also state that three players born after 1997 can be included in the squad, with the Blues naming Charlie Colkett, Kasey Palmer and Ola Aina as their over-age players for the competition.
Belgium U21 midfielder Charly Musonda has been left out of the squad, hinting at a potential loan deal for the season.
Chelsea’s UEFA Youth League squad begin their title defence against Maccabi Tel-Aviv next week; as do the senior squad.
Here is the squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Brad Collins (18), Nathan Baxter (16), Jared Thompson (16), Jamie Cumming (16)
Defenders: Ola Aina (18), Jake Clarke-Salter (17), Jay Dasilva (17), Richard Nartey (17), Ali Suljic (17), Fikayo Tomori (17), Trevor Chalobah (16), Cole Dasilva (16), Josh Grant (16), Dujon Sterling (15), Zech Medley (15), Marc Guehi (15)
Midfielders: Charlie Colkett (19), Jeremie Boga (18), Josimar Quintero (18), Hubert Adamczyk (17), Ali Mukhtar (17), Isaac Christie-Davies (17), Ruben Sammut (17), Kyle Scott (17), Jacob Maddox (16), Luke McCormick (16), Mason Mount (16), Harvey St Clair (16), Tariq Uwakwe (15), George McEachran (15)
Forwards: Kasey Palmer (18), Tammy Abraham (17), Faiq Bolkiah (17), Miro Muheim (17), Charlie Wakefield (17), Daniel Kemp (16), Ike Ugbo (16), Malakai Hinckson-Mars (16), Martell Taylor-Crossdale (15)
