Chelsea's return to the UEFA Champions League after two seasons is already facing a major challenge as the Blues have been handed a massive sanction.

Latest news as UEFA make a change to the Champions League format for next season that will affect Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham

Blues must raise more than £60m in sales to ensure new arrivals can play in Champions League next season as part of sanctions for breaching UEFA rules

With around £140m having been spent already, Chelsea are at risk of not being able to register some new signings for their Champions League List A, unless they can settle the difference in funds. This could include Liam Delap, João Pedro, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr, and Jamie Gittens.

Chelsea may have pocketed nearly £60m from reaching the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, but that windfall does little to ease their ongoing issues with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

While four clubs remain focused on the tail end of the 2024/25 season in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, attention has already turned to the new campaign in Europe. The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League officially begins todaywith the opening fixtures of the first qualifying round.

Defender Bashir Humphreys and goalkeepers Kepa Arrizabalaga and Marcus Bettinelli have all departed for a combined sum of around £20m. That means Chelsea could need to recoup at least £90m to be certain of registering their summer signings.

Pressure Mounts as UEFA Tightens GripFinancial Firepower Collides with UEFA RealityChelsea’s windfall from the Club World Cup — nearing £60 million after