---
title: "Why City have named only 23 players in their Champions League squad"
canonical: "https://readmancity.com/2026/09/04/man-city-champions-league-squad-23-players/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "Man City News"
published: "2026-09-04T12:13:38Z"
modified: "2026-09-22T18:47:12Z"
---

# Why City have named only 23 players in their Champions League squad

**[City](https://readmancity.com/) have submitted their squad for the league phase of the Champions League – and one detail stands out.**

[Enzo Maresca](https://readmancity.com/2026/09/04/enzo-maresca-man-city-manager-month-nomination/) has only 23 players on List A, despite UEFA regulations allowing clubs to register up to 25. It isn’t, of course, an oversight.

## Why City’s squad stops at 23

UEFA reserves eight places in a full 25-man List A for locally-trained players.

At least four of those places are reserved for players trained by the club itself, while no more than four of the eight can be players developed elsewhere within the same national association.

City have only two club-trained players on List A: Phil Foden and Rico Lewis.

Under UEFA regulations, an unfilled locally-trained place cannot simply be handed to another senior player. City’s List A is therefore reduced from the normal maximum of 25.

That also helps explain two notable absences.

Nico O’Reilly isn’t on List A.

Neither is [Ryan McAidoo](https://readmancity.com/2026/08/16/man-city-ryan-mcaidoo-maresca-stay-first-team/).

But both qualify for List B, which operates separately and can be updated during the competition. O’Reilly can therefore play in the Champions League without taking one of City’s List A places.

Given how prominent he has already become under Maresca, that is particularly useful.

### City’s Champions League List A

**Goalkeepers:** Donnarumma, Rulli, Bettinelli, Chabot.

**Defenders:** Lewis, Khusanov, Reis, Dias, Guéhi, Gvardiol, Aït-Nouri.

**Midfielders:** Nunes, Kovačić, Anderson, Bouaddi, Fernández, Cherki, Foden, Doku.

**Forwards:** Allan, Ndiaye, Semenyo, Haaland.

The squad announcement itself may already be familiar to supporters.

The more interesting detail is why a club that spent so heavily strengthening Maresca’s squad this summer has entered its Champions League campaign with only 23 names on List A.

Nobody has been accidentally left out.

It is simply the consequence of UEFA’s registration rules – with O’Reilly and McAidoo safely accommodated elsewhere.

*For updates on City throughout the season, take a look at our [LIVE! Premier League 2026/27 News, Transfers, Updates & Viral Moments](https://dave.sport/live/premier-league-2026-2027-season-updates/) page.*