UEFA introduces debut patches for Champions League first-timers

UEFA will introduce special “debut patches” for players making their first appearances in the UEFA Champions League during the 2026/27 season.

In a post on its X handle on Wednesday, UEFA said the initiative is part of a new agreement between UEFA and Fanatics, with the small patches to be placed on the sleeves of players making their Champions League debuts.

The patch will feature the word “debut” incorporated into the competition’s iconic starball logo.

“A special debut patch has been introduced for players making their first-ever #UCL appearance! After the match, the patch will be removed from the player’s shirt and placed inside a unique 1-of-1 autographed Topps trading card,” the post read.

After each match, the patch will be removed from the player’s jersey and sent to Topps, the trading card company owned by Fanatics.

The patches will then be incorporated into unique, player-signed trading cards, with each patch authenticated before the cards are released.

Players who enter a match as substitutes and make their first appearance will also qualify for the special patches.

However, players who are named in a matchday squad but remain unused substitutes will not qualify until they actually feature in a Champions League match.

The initiative is expected to provide a unique keepsake for players reaching one of European club football’s biggest milestones for the first time.

Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.

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