UEFA Squad Announcement
Inter and Italian Clubs Finalize UEFA Champions League Squads for 2026-27
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Key Points
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Inter's List B features 21-year-old Pio Esposito and fellow homegrown Aleksandar Stankovic, while the club's official UEFA squad also includes summer signings John Stones, Curtis Jones and Djed Spence.
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Juventus have Kenan Yildiz on List B due to his age, and summer signing Jeff Ekhator is not listed on either List A or List B.
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Atalanta's List A includes the maximum 25 players with nine locally trained, and uniquely includes two U23 players on List A: Tommaso De Nipoti (23) and Sergej Levak (20). De Nipoti is too old for List B, while Levak is not yet eligible for List B given youth-system tenure.
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Rule details not in the summary: List A must include four players from the club's own youth system and four from the federation's youth system; List B comprises players born after 1 January 2005; there are 17 unrestricted List A slots, and if all eight homegrown slots cannot be filled, the total on List A can be reduced from 25.
Inter Milan has submitted its official squad for the 2026-27 Champions League, mixing seasoned stars with homegrown talent across two tiers of eligibility. The club's List A features recent summer signings John Stones, Curtis Jones, and Djed Spence alongside established players, while List B showcases academy products like 21-year-old Pio Esposito and Aleksandar Stankovic Source 1.
Italian clubs must follow strict UEFA rules for European competitions: 25-player List A squads require at least four players developed at the club's youth academy and four from the national federation's youth system. List B is open to all players born after January 1, 2005, allowing clubs to develop young talent outside the main roster Source 1.
How Inter's Squad Lists Are Structured
Inter's List A contains 25 senior players including two goalkeepers and eight locally trained players as required by UEFA rules Source 1. The club balances star performers with academy graduates who meet the homegrown requirement, ensuring competitive strength while developing internal talent. Summer signings fill remaining slots on List A to maximize squad depth.
List B is reserved for younger players or academy graduates. Pio Esposito and Aleksandar Stankovic appear on this secondary roster, giving Inter flexibility to promote rising talent without displacing established stars Source 1. Players on List B born after January 1, 2005, can be added or removed more freely than List A members.
Juventus and Atalanta Apply Same UEFA Requirements
Juventus places young star Kenan Yildiz on List B due to his age, despite his proven ability at the senior level Source 2. Summer signing Jeff Ekhator does not appear on either list, possibly because the club chose to allocate him to a reserved slot or he arrived after the submission deadline.
Atalanta named the maximum 25 players on List A, including nine locally trained players and two U23 prospects: Tommaso De Nipoti (23) and Sergej Levak (20) Source 3. De Nipoti exceeds List B eligibility by age, while Levak's youth-system tenure makes him ineligible for that tier, so both occupy List A spots instead.
Squad Submission Rules and Key Deadlines
All seven Italian clubs participating in European competitions must submit final 25-player lists by September 2, 2026 Source 1. If a club cannot fill all eight homegrown slots, the total roster size drops below 25 to maintain the correct ratio of locally trained players.
List A requires exactly four academy products and four federation-trained players; 17 remaining slots are unrestricted and open to any player meeting age and registration criteria Source 1. This structure forces elite clubs to balance proven performers with youth development, ensuring competitive balance across European football.
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