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Champions League introduces special shirt badge for debuting players
🇬🇷 Greece /Sports

Champions League introduces special shirt badge for debuting players

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • UEFA will give players making their first Champions League appearance a special sleeve patch beginning with next week’s League Phase.
  • Fanatics and Topps will use the patches to create signed collectible cards after matches.
  • The initiative is expected to expand to the Women’s Champions League in the 2027-28 season.

Champions League newcomers will have a visible marker of their European debut this season: a special patch on their shirt sleeve.

The innovation will begin with the League Phase next week. Players appearing in the competition for the first time will wear the badge, distinguishing them from their teammates who have already played in the tournament.

UEFA developed the initiative with Fanatics, the sports merchandise company. After the matches, the patches will be collected and handed to Topps, Fanatics’ trading-card business. Each unique badge will then help produce a signed collectible card for the player and supporters.

Manchester United players Bryan Mbeumo and Carlos Baleba are among those expected to make their Champions League debuts. The concept is also expected to reach the women’s game, with the patches planned for the Women’s Champions League from the 2027-28 season.

A similar initiative already operates in the NBA. Comparable patches were worn at the 2026 World Cup by Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon.

About this summary

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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