Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been removed from Chelsea’s Champions League squad for the knockout stages to make room for £107 million signing, Enzo Fernandez.
Aubameyang, a former Arsenal captain, has not started a game for Chelsea since November.
Reports in Spain claim that the 33-year-old was desperate to leave Stamford Bridge – and would have preferred a return to Barcelona – but he did not exit during the January window.
Since making his move to Stamford Bridge in August, the striker has failed to establish himself in the Chelsea side, with Kai Havertz often deployed as a No 9 instead.
Aubameyang has however started all six games for Chelsea in the Champions League this year, scoring against AC Milan at Stamford Bridge and the San Siro.
Chelsea have also been forced to leave £35million January signing Benoit Badiashile out of their Champions League squad, while wantaway winger Hakim Ziyech keeps his place.
New signings Mykhailo Mudryk and Joao Felix joined Fernandez in being added to Chelsea’s squad.
The Blues come up against Borussia Dortmund across two legs in the last-16 later this month, but Graham Potter has faced a selection headache after Chelsea recruited a further eight players in January.
READ ALSO: Chelsea sign Enzo Fernandez in £106.8m record deal from Benfica
The British-record signing of World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez took Todd Boehly’s spending to a staggering £323.5 million in January.
But UEFA rules stipulate only three new players can be registered for the knockout stages, which has left Potter unable to select all his latest signings.
Potter ultimately had to choose between Badiashile, Fernandez, Mudryk and Felix, with the Frenchman missing out to accommodate for the attacking stars.
Article 46.01 of the Champions League regulations states: “As of the round of 16, a club may register a maximum of three new eligible players for the remaining matches in the current competition.
“Such registration must be completed by 2 February 2023 (24.00CET) at the latest.
This deadline cannot be extended.”
Clubs had until the end of Thursday to confirm their squads to UEFA, who released them on Friday.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Fulham on Friday night, Graham Potter admitted that some players would be left disappointed.
“There’s going to be a few awkward conversations. That’s the reality of where we are.
“Only 11 can play and only a certain amount can be in squads so there’s always going to be a certain amount who will be disappointed,” he stated.
Below is Chelsea’s squad for UEFA Champions League:
GOALKEEPERS
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Marcus Bettinelli, Edouard Mendy
DEFENDERS
Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Kalidou Koulibaly. Cesar Azpilicueta, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana
MIDFIELDERS
Enzo Fernandez, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, Denis Zakaria, Hakim Ziyech, Conor Gallagher, Carney Chukwuemeka, Charlie Webster, Lewis Hall
FORWARDS
Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk, Armando Broja, Kai Havertz
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