Madueke faces tough task to make Chelsea's Champions League squad after capture of Fernandez

England U21 international of Nigerian descent Chukwunonso Madueke is facing a tough task to be included on Chelsea's Champions League roster for the second half of the season.

The inverted winger joined the Blues on a seven-and-a-half-year deal last month and is eligible to play for the Londoners in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

According to UEFA rules, clubs are allowed to register a maximum of three new eligible players during the winter, and it does not matter if the players have already played in the Champions League for a different club earlier in the season.

Chelsea brought in Madueke, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Benoît Badiashile, Andrey Santos, David Datro Fofana and João Félix before January 31, and this morning confirmed that the transfer of Enzo Fernández went through before the close of the winter transfer market. 

Promising United States international goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina is back at Stamford Bridge following the expiration of his loan deal at Chicago Fire, bringing the total number of new players to eight. 

The capture of Fernández has made things more difficult for Madueke to be included in Chelsea's squad list for the Champions League given that the Argentina World Cup star is all but guaranteed a spot on the roster. 

Manager Graham Potter has a tough decision to make, choosing two out of the remaining seven players, and Madueke is believed to be behind João Félix and Mudryk in the pecking order. 

For UEFA purposes, Madueke does not count as an U21 player and cannot be added to Chelsea's B list in 2023 as he hasn't played for the club for an interrupted period of two years. 

The 20-year-old is also not considered to be an association trained player by UEFA, having departed Tottenham Hotspur at the age of 16.

Madueke is set to be included on Chelsea's Premier League roster as an U21 player. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit : chelseafc.com

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