RismadarVoice Reporters
September 2, 2026
Several Premier League players are set to wear special Champions League kits during the 2026/27 season after UEFA introduced a new rule requiring first-time participants in the competition to display a unique “Debut” patch.
The new initiative, created through a partnership between UEFA and sports merchandising company Fanatics, will see players making their Champions League debut wear a special sleeve patch featuring the word “debut” integrated into the competition’s starball logo.
The patch will only be used during the player’s first appearance in the tournament. After the debut match, it will be removed and transferred to Fanatics-owned trading card company Topps, where it will be converted into a special collectable card signed by the player.
Players named as unused substitutes in their first Champions League squad will not qualify for the collectable card until they make their actual debut on the pitch. However, substitutes who come on during the match will be eligible.
The programme is expected to create highly valuable collectables, with rare football cards historically attracting significant interest from collectors and sometimes selling for more than £100,000.
The new system will affect several English clubs participating in this season’s Champions League, including Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United.
Across the five Premier League teams, 19 senior squad players are eligible to make their first appearance in Europe’s top club competition.
Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo is among the players expected to receive the debut patch, while new signing Carlos Baleba could also make his Champions League bow after joining the club from Brighton in a reported £70 million deal.
Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet is also expected to feature in the competition for the first time after establishing himself in the club’s defence alongside Virgil van Dijk. Young winger Victor Munoz is another Liverpool player who could receive the patch during the campaign.
At Manchester City, new signing Iliman Ndiaye is among the likely debutants following his move from Everton.
The Champions League group phase begins on September 8, with 36 teams competing across eight match rounds after the draw was conducted in Monaco on August 27.
The debutant patch initiative is also expected to be introduced in the Women’s Champions League from next season.
Potential Champions League debutants from English clubs include:
Arsenal:
Illan Meslier
Aston Villa:
Zion Suzuki
João Gomes
Johan Manzambi
Modou Kéba Cissé
Brian Madjo
Liverpool:
Freddie Woodman
Giovanni Leoni
Jeremy Jacquet
Victor Munoz
Manchester City:
Allan Elias
Iliman Ndiaye
Manchester United:
Karl Darlow
Tom Heaton
Patrick Dorgu
Leny Yoro
Ayden Heaven
Bryan Mbeumo
Carlos Baleba
