Arsenal, Aston Villa and Liverpool Confirm Champions League Squads as Key Names Miss Out

Arsenal, Aston Villa and Liverpool have confirmed their squads for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase, with managers Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery and Andoni Iraola all making their final selection decisions before the competition gets underway.

While Arsenal have avoided any major senior surprises, there are much bigger calls elsewhere. Aston Villa deadline-day arrival Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been left out just days after completing his move to Villa Park, while Liverpool will enter the league phase without Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo.

Experience Champions League Football with Eventmasters Hospitality

The return of the Champions League also brings another collection of major European nights to Emirates Stadium, Villa Park and Anfield, with Eventmasters offering hospitality across the home campaigns of Arsenal, Aston Villa and Liverpool.

Arsenal will welcome Lille, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Sabah to North London, with the Cannon Club Level Seat Experience available at Emirates Stadium. Aston Villa host Fenerbahçe, Viking FK, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund, where The Lower Grounds Premium combines official seating with inclusive food and selected complimentary drinks. Liverpool, meanwhile, face Atletico Madrid, Villarreal, FC Porto and Lens at Anfield, with the Anfield Beat Lounge providing official Main Stand seating and access to a dedicated pre-match hospitality facility.

Arsenal Name Strong 22-Man List A Squad

Arsenal head back into the Champions League looking to build on their run to last season’s final, and Arteta has been able to include the majority of his senior first-team options in his List A squad.

Summer arrivals Bruno Guimarães, Christos Tzolis and Ezri Konsa have all been registered, alongside Piero Hincapié and established names including Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, William Saliba and Viktor Gyökeres. Saliba’s inclusion is particularly encouraging given his recent fitness issues, while Arsenal have significant depth across both midfield and defence.

Arsenal’s confirmed List A squad is:

Goalkeepers: David Raya, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Illan Meslier.

Defenders: William Saliba, Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, Piero Hincapié, Gabriel, Jurriën Timber, Ezri Konsa, Riccardo Calafiori.

Midfielders: Martin Ødegaard, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Mikel Merino, Kai Havertz, Martin Zubimendi, Bruno Guimarães, Declan Rice.

Forwards: Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyökeres, Christos Tzolis.

One name supporters may initially notice is missing is Myles Lewis-Skelly, but his absence from List A should not be confused with an omission from Arsenal’s European plans. The academy graduate qualifies for UEFA’s List B, meaning he can be registered separately without taking one of Arsenal’s senior List A places. Other eligible academy players can be treated in the same way, with List B able to be updated throughout the league phase.

Arsenal begin their Champions League campaign away against Napoli on Wednesday 9th September before their first European night of the season at Emirates Stadium against Lille on 13th October.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis Headlines Aston Villa Omissions

There is considerably more intrigue surrounding Aston Villa’s squad, with Emery naming a 23-player List A for the club’s return to the Champions League.

The biggest absentee is Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Villa completed the signing of the England defender from Southampton on deadline day in a deal reported at £25million plus a further £5million in potential add-ons, yet he has not been registered for the opening phase of the Champions League.

UEFA rules state that eight places in a maximum 25-man List A are reserved for locally trained players, with no more than four of those eight being association-trained rather than club-trained. Clubs unable to meet that requirement have their maximum squad size reduced accordingly, and Villa’s homegrown situation has left Emery restricted to 23 List A players.

Harwood-Bellis is not the only notable absentee. Young forward Brian Madjo has also been left out despite making an impression during the summer, while Modou Keba Cissé is another player not included. Madjo cannot simply be placed on List B on account of his age because UEFA also requires eligible List B players to have spent the necessary period registered with their current club.

There are places, however, for a host of Villa’s new arrivals. Leon Goretzka, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Nicolas Jackson, Alejandro Garnacho and Ibrahim Mbaye are all available to Emery in Europe.

Aston Villa’s confirmed List A squad is:

Goalkeepers: Zion Suzuki, Marco Bizot, James Wright.

Defenders: Matty Cash, Victor Lindelöf, Tyrone Mings, Matteo Ruggeri, Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde, Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Midfielders: Ross Barkley, John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara, Leon Goretzka, João Gomes, Johan Manzambi.

Forwards: Emiliano Buendía, Nicolas Jackson, Alejandro Garnacho, Tammy Abraham, Ibrahim Mbaye, Alysson.

Villa begin their European campaign away against Club Brugge on Tuesday 8th September, before a league phase that will also see Emery’s side face Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Galatasaray among their eight opponents.

Liverpool Leave Chiesa and Endo Out

Liverpool have filled their 25-man List A, leaving Iraola with some difficult decisions as the Reds prepare for another Champions League campaign.

Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo are the two standout casualties. Chiesa is currently recovering from an injury suffered during pre-season and is expected to return to training later in September, but the Italian has nevertheless been left outside Liverpool’s European squad for the league phase. Endo has also missed the cut despite remaining part of Iraola’s senior options domestically.

Perhaps more revealing is who Liverpool have chosen to retain. Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Hugo Ekitiké have all been registered despite working their way back from significant injuries. Bradley underwent knee surgery earlier this year, Leoni has been absent since suffering an ACL injury in September 2025 and Ekitiké ruptured his Achilles in April, suggesting Iraola is looking beyond the opening matchdays when constructing his European squad.

Liverpool’s confirmed List A squad is:

Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Freddie Woodman, Vitězslav Jaroš.

Defenders: Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Jérémy Jacquet, Milos Kerkez, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Kostas Tsimikas, Jeremie Frimpong, Ronald Araújo, Luke Chambers, Isaac Mabaya.

Midfielders: Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Víctor Muñoz, Ryan Gravenberch, James McConnell.

Forwards: Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitiké, Bradley Barcola.

The Reds do not have long to wait for their first European night at Anfield. Atletico Madrid visit on Wednesday 9th September, before Villarreal, FC Porto and Lens also travel to Merseyside later in the league phase.

Can Champions League Squads Change?

Missing the initial List A does not necessarily end a player’s Champions League involvement for the entire season.

UEFA permits List B to be updated throughout the competition for eligible young players, while clubs can also make a temporary outfield replacement in certain cases involving an injury or illness lasting at least 60 days during the league phase. If a club reaches the knockout phase, it can then register up to three new eligible players before the 4th February 2027 deadline.

That means the likes of Harwood-Bellis, Chiesa and Endo could yet enter their respective European squads later in the campaign if circumstances allow. For now, though, Arsenal, Villa and Liverpool have made their choices as another Champions League season prepares to get underway.

UEFA Champions League FAQs

When does the 2026/27 Champions League league phase begin?

The opening Champions League league phase fixtures take place from Tuesday 8th to Thursday 10th September 2026. The eight-match league phase concludes on Wednesday 27th January 2027.

Why can Champions League squads contain fewer than 25 players?

UEFA permits clubs to register up to 25 players on List A, but eight positions are reserved for locally trained players. A club that cannot fill all of those reserved positions has its maximum List A size reduced accordingly.

Can players left out of the Champions League squad be added later?

Yes, in certain circumstances. Eligible young players can be registered through List B throughout the league phase, while clubs reaching the knockout rounds can register up to three new eligible players by 4th February 2027. UEFA also permits limited replacements for long-term injuries during the league phase.

Can I book Arsenal, Aston Villa and Liverpool Champions League hospitality with Eventmasters?

Yes. Eventmasters offers hospitality for Champions League fixtures at Emirates Stadium, Villa Park and Anfield during the 2026/27 season. Available experiences include Arsenal’s Cannon Club Level Seat Experience, Aston Villa’s Lower Grounds Premium and Liverpool’s Anfield Beat Lounge, with packages and availability varying by fixture.