Tottenham Excludes Six Players From Champions League Squad

Tottenham Hotspur has announced a 22-man squad for the group stage of the 2025/26 Champions League, leaving out six players due to UEFA regulations requiring four club-trained players, a quota Spurs cannot fully meet. The omitted players include Mathys Tel, a recent £30 million signing from Bayern Munich, Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, Yves Bissouma, Kota Takai, and James Maddison, with injuries and squad restrictions influencing these decisions. Manager Thomas Frank prioritized defensive depth and fitness concerns, especially as players like Maddison and Kulusevski recover from long-term injuries, while Bissouma's exclusion may also relate to potential transfer moves. Tottenham can adjust their squad before the knockout stage, allowing up to three changes, a strategy previously used with players like Djed Spence. The squad announcement surprised fans, particularly with Tel’s omission, as he was expected to be a key player following his summer transfer. Tottenham will compete in a tough group including Villarreal, AS Monaco, PSG, and Borussia Dortmund.