Tottenham Leave £35m Mathys Tel Out Of UCL Squad Due To Homegrown Quota

Tottenham Hotspur's new £35 million signing, Mathys Tel, has been notably omitted from the club's 22-man Champions League squad for the group stage, a decision that has sparked controversy given the forward's potential and transfer fee. Manager Thomas Frank's selection was constrained by UEFA's homegrown player rules, which require at least eight locally trained players in a 25-man squad; Tottenham's shortage of such players forced them to reduce their squad size and omit several players, including Tel, Yves Bissouma, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, and Kota Takai. Bissouma's exclusion is tied to disciplinary reasons and the club's openness to selling him, while Maddison and Kulusevski remain sidelined due to long-term injuries. Tel has struggled to secure a starting position under Frank, appearing only as a late substitute in Premier League matches, and his confidence reportedly dipped after a penalty miss in the UEFA Super Cup final. The decision reflects Frank's preference for players who have adapted better to his tactical system and mental demands, despite the significant investment Spurs made in Tel. Tottenham can update their squad ahead of the Champions League knockout phase, providing a chance to include up to three new players by February 5, 2026.