Chelsea have strengthened their Champions League squad ahead of Wednesday’s game against Ajax with the addition of 33 young players. Among the players added to the B-list are former Blues defender Thiago Silva’s son Isago and former club president Michael Emenalo’s son Landon. Also included are promising talents Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, Ibrahim Labazi and Simu Meuka. Clubs can add an unlimited number of players born on or after January 1, 2004 to the B-list on the eve of a match.
The Daily Mail claims Chelsea have brought in a large number of academy stars to avoid having to register players individually for future matches. This means head coach Enzo Maresca can fill his match-day squad with B-list players if necessary. Chelsea will host Ajax in west London as they aim to win a second consecutive title in Europe’s top competition. After losing to Bayern Munich in the opening game, Maresca’s team narrowly missed out on their last game against Benfica.
Joao Pedro will be sidelined through suspension, potentially paving the way for Marc Giu to make his first start of the season since his loan spell at Sunderland was ended.
Chelsea’s full Champions League squad after the new additions are as follows:
Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez, Philip Jorgensen, Jack Austin (B), Hudson Sands (B), Toby Bell (B).
Defenders: Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiasile, Trevor Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Mark Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, Maro Gast, Jorel Hato, Reece James, Genesis Antwi (B), Richard Oris (B), Harrison Murray-Campbell (B), Kobe Barber (B), Harry McGlinchey (B), Cayden Wilson. (B), Olutayo Sabloe (B), Joseph Wheeler Henry (B), Calvin Diakite (B), Isago Silva (B), Louis Richards (B), Dante Waite (B).
Midfielders: Moises Caicedo, Dario Essugo, Enzo Fernández, Andrei Santos, Sam Rak Sakii (B), Jimi Tauliainen (B), Harrison McMahon (B), Leo Cardoso (B), Landon Emenalo (B), Sol Gordon (B), Ollie Harrison (B), Yahya Idrissi-Legreagi (B), Frankie Luman (B), Sean Wade (B), Charles Holland (B), Jeremiah Barkley-Agyepong (B), Ibrahim Labazi (B).
Attackers: Liam Delap, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens, Marc Giu, Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Estevao Willian, Ato Amper (B), Sham Meuka (B), Chizaram Ezenwata (B), Ryan Kavuma-McQueen (B), Joel Vidal-Filbert (B).
