Leoni registered, Chiesa removed from Liverpool's Champions League squad
Quick summary
Liverpool have officially registered young defender Giovanni Leoni in their Champions League squad while removing Federico Chiesa from the list.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceLiverpool have announced their squad for the 2026-27 Champions League campaign, with Giovanni Leoni included and Federico Chiesa left out.
Italian centre-back Leoni is part of Liverpool’s Champions League squad for the first part of the 2026-27 season.
Liverpool Champions League squad: Leoni in, Chiesa out LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 23: Giovanni Leoni of Liverpool controls the ball whilst under pressure from Leo Scienza of Southampton during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield on September 23, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) The ex-Parma defender is recovering from a cruciate ligament injury suffered on his senior Liverpool debut last season. Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola has said that Leoni is expected to resume training with the rest of the team during the international break.
The same is true of Chiesa, but the Italian winger was dropped from Liverpool’s Champions League squad list, so he won’t be eligible for European matches this term.
As The Athletic highlights, this is hardly a surprise, given UEFA requirements regarding homegrown players and the fact that Chiesa was initially omitted from Liverpool’s Champions League squad a year ago under Arne Slot.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 2: Federico Chiesa #14 of Liverpool and Harvey Elliott #19 look on before a preseason friendly against Leeds United at Soldier Field on August 2, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) Last season, however, the winger was eventually included to replace the injured Leoni.
Chiesa has grabbed five goals and five assists in 50 Liverpool games across all competitions since 2024 and hasn’t featured for the Italy national team since the 2024 Euros.
Liverpool’s Champions League squad for 2026-27: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman, Jaros; Gomez, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez, Bradley, Leoni, Tsimikas, Frimpong, Araujo, Chambers, Mabaya; Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Munoz, Gravenberch, McConnell; Isak, Gakpo, Ekitike, Barcola.
Source attribution: this article content is based on the linked publisher feed/source. Chance adds independent soccer context, impact analysis, entity links, and related news.
What happened
Liverpool have finalized their Champions League squad registration, bringing in new signing Giovanni Leoni, the highly-rated young centre-back acquired from Parma this summer. To accommodate the teenager within UEFA's squad limits, Federico Chiesa has been omitted from the European squad. The decision signals Slot's preference for defensive reinforcement over keeping the Italian winger in the European rotation, with Chiesa now limited to domestic competition unless Liverpool revise their list later in the campaign.
Chance analysis
The choice reflects a clear prioritization from Arne Slot: Liverpool's new defensive recruit Leoni, signed for a significant fee from Parma, is viewed as immediately useful in Europe, while Chiesa — whose minutes were already limited — becomes a domestic-only option. For Liverpool's Champions League campaign, the defensive depth is strengthened, but the attacking bench loses a versatile wide option. Chiesa's exclusion also reignites questions about his long-term future at Anfield heading into the next transfer window.
Liverpool's Champions League defensive depth improves with Leoni's inclusion, while Chiesa is restricted to domestic fixtures only.