
UEFA to introduce debut patches for first-time Champions League players starting in 2026/27 season
UEFA announced it will introduce special "debut patches" for players making their first appearances in the UEFA Champions League, beginning with the 2026/27 season. This initiative, part of a new agreement between UEFA and Fanatics, will see small patches placed on the sleeves of players making their Champions League debuts. The patch will feature the word "debut" integrated into the competition's starball logo. Following each match, the patch will be removed from the player's jersey and sent to Topps, a trading card company owned by Fanatics. These patches will then be incorporated into unique, player-signed trading cards, with each patch authenticated before release. Players entering a match as substitutes and making their first appearance will also qualify for these patches. However, players named in a matchday squad but remaining unused substitutes will not qualify until they actually participate in a Champions League match. This initiative aims to provide a unique keepsake for players reaching this significant milestone in European club football.



