BREAKING: Manchester City’s List A Squad For The 2025–26 UEFA Champions League League Phase
Manchester City have released list of squad for the 25/26 UCL kicking off later in the year. The list is based on current players and match fitness. This was made known to the public via official Man City channel.
1. Announcement at a Glance
Manchester City have officially submitted their 23-man List A squad for the league phase of this season’s UEFA Champions League. The announcement comes just days before their opener against Napoli at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, 18 September 2025 .
UEFA regulations allow a maximum of 25 players on List A, which must include at least two goalkeepers and at least eight locally trained players. In addition, a List B of homegrown youth players can be updated for each matchday .
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2. The 23-Man Squad Breakdown
Here is the complete composition of Manchester City’s Champions League League Phase List A squad:
Goalkeepers
Gianluigi Donnarumma
James Trafford
Stefan Ortega Moreno
Marcus Bettinelli
Defenders
Matheus Nunes
John Stones
Abdukodir Khusanov
Ruben Dias
Joško Gvardiol
Nathan Aké
Rayan Aït-Nouri
Midfielders
Rodri
Mateo Kovačić
Nico (presumably Nico González)
Tijjani Reijnders
Bernardo Silva
Phil Foden
Rayan Cherki
Forwards
Savinho
Jeremy Doku
Oscar Bobb
Omar Marmoush
Erling Haaland
List B (Homegrown Youth, amended per match)
Rico Lewis
Nico O’Reilly
3. What the Squad Says about City’s Strategy
Goalkeeper Depth
The presence of four goalkeepers, including newcomer Donnarumma, signals City’s focus on reliability and experience in a crucial area. His inclusion for the first time since his high-profile move from PSG highlights his immediate role in Pep Guardiola’s plans .
Defensive Stability and Reinforcements
The backline combines experience (Stones, Dias, Aké) with youthful ambition and new additions (Khusanov, Gvardiol, Aït-Nouri). This blend offers both solidity and potential versatility.
Midfield: Rebuilding without De Bruyne
With Kevin De Bruyne now departed, midfield responsibility is shared among the dependable trio (Rodri, Kovačić, Bernardo Silva), the dynamic creativity of Foden, and fresh injectors of energy and vision like Reijnders, Cherki, and Nico González.
Attacking Arsenal
The forward line pairs the proven machine of Erling Haaland with a diverse set of attacking threats—winners like Marmoush and flair players such as Savinho, Doku, and Bobb. This makes City’s attacking unit both adaptable and dangerous .
Youth Integration via List B
The inclusion of academy prospects Rico Lewis and Nico O’Reilly in List B highlights Guardiola’s investment in youth and squad flexibility, allowing them to be involved on a match-by-match basis .
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4. Context: A Squad in Transition
City’s Champions League roster underscores a broader rebuilding and evolution. The 2024–25 season marked their first without Kevin De Bruyne in over a decade, and they endured their most challenging year under Pep—with a rare trophyless campaign and setbacks in Europe .
To address these gaps, City invested over £300 million in new signings: Marmoush, Khusanov, Nico González, Vitor Reis, Reijnders, Aït-Nouri, Cherki, and Trafford. This recruitment drive demonstrates ambition for depth, creativity, and defensive reinforcement .
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5. Implications for the Champions League Campaign
This 23-man selection gives Guardiola strategic flexibility across all zones—defense, midfield, and attack—while also meeting UEFA’s regulatory demands.
The option to register up to three new players before the knockout rounds (in February) means City can adapt further if injuries or transfer moves occur .
Blending youth with experience is likely essential to manage dual demands of domestic and European competition, especially under UEFA’s compressed new format.
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6. Club Ambitions on Display
Experience: Players like Dias, Stones, Rodri, and Haaland bring invaluable Champions League pedigree and leadership.
Fresh energy: The signings of Marmoush, Reijnders, Nina González, and Cherki signals strategic rebuilding and faith in new star profiles.
Youth faith: The inclusion of Lewis and O’Reilly balances learning opportunities with squad manageability.
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7. Final Thoughts
This squad announcement marks a pivotal moment for Manchester City as they embark on a new European campaign without some long-standing pillars yet still competing at the highest level. The approach highlights:
A reliance on proven leaders,
A refresh of creativity and pace,
And a clear vision for sustainable squad depth.
With their Champions League journey beginning against Napoli on 18 September, all eyes are on how this carefully curated roster will unfold under the unique demands of the revamped league phase.
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