Facundo Buonanotte added to Chelsea's Champions League squad after devastating injury blow for fellow summer signing

Facundo Buonanotte has been added to Chelsea’s Champions League squad following an injury blow to another of the Blues’ summer signings. Highly-rated midfielder Dario Essugo has been forced to undergo surgery on a thigh problem. That has left the door open for Buonanotte to be drafted into Enzo Maresca’s plans ahead of a return to elite European competition.

Facundo Buonanotte added to Chelsea's Champions League squad after devastating injury blow for fellow summer signingFacundo Buonanotte added to Chelsea's Champions League squad after devastating injury blow for fellow summer signingFacundo Buonanotte added to Chelsea's Champions League squad after devastating injury blow for fellow summer signing

savoured continental glory in the last season, before going on to lift the FIFA Club . A promising start has been made to their 2025-26 Premier League campaign, with attention now switching to matters.

The Blues are preparing for a trip to on Wednesday that will see them line up against former striker Harry Kane. Buonanotte could figure in that contest after becoming the beneficiary of a recent rule change.

UEFA now allows clubs to make changes to their European squad lists if serious injuries are suffered. Essugo falls into that category, with the 20-year-old Portuguese set to spend several weeks on the sidelinesafter undergoing an operation.

Chelsea have confirmed that Buonanotte has been added to their squad. He was initially overlooked on the back of completing an initial season-long loan move to Stamford Bridge from on transfer deadline day.

The 20-year-old international made his full debut for the Blues against , in a 2-2 draw, and will now be hoping to see European game time. Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia have been able to train ahead of a trip to , but it remains to be seen whether they are ready for competitive game time.