Who can play in the Champions League group stage?

When do players need to be registered to be eligible for the group stage?

A club must submit their A list (explained below) of players by midnight CET on Tuesday 1 September if they are to be eligible for the group stage onwards. All the official player lists will be available on UEFA.com.

Can a player play in UEFA competition for more than one club in the same season?

As a rule, a player may not play in a UEFA club competition (UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, excluding UEFA Super Cup) for more than one club in the course of the same season. However, a player can play for one club in the first, second and third qualifying round, and/or the play-offs, of the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League, and then represent another club from the group stage of either competition.

What about if a player moves in the January transfer window?

A club may register a maximum of three new eligible players for the knockout stage. Such registration must be completed by midnight CET on 2 February 2016.

One player from the above quota of three can have been fielded in a group stage by another club in the current season, provided that the player has not been fielded:

• In the same competition for another club; OR

• For another club that is currently in the same competition (applies specifically to third-placed UEFA Champions League teams joining the UEFA Europa League)

One or more players from the above quota of three can be registered even if they have been fielded by another club in the first, second or third qualifying round, and/or play-offs of the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League.

What is the A list of players?

No club may have more than 25 players on List A during the season, two of whom must be goalkeepers. As a minimum, eight places are reserved exclusively for 'locally-trained players', of which no more than four can be 'association-trained players'.

What is a 'locally-trained player'?

These are split into two categories: 'club trained' and 'association trained'.

What is a 'club-trained player'?

One who, between the age of 15 (or the start of the season during which he turns 15) and 21 (or the end of the season during which he turns 21) has been registered with his current club for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months. This is irrespective of his nationality and age.

What is an 'association-trained player'?

One who, between the age of 15 (or the start of the season during which the player turns 15) and 21 (or the end of the season during which the player turns 21), has been registered with a club or with other clubs affiliated to the same association as that of his current club for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months. This is irrespective of his nationality and age.

What is the B list of players?

A player may be registered on List B if he is born on or after 1 January 1994 and has been eligible to play for the club concerned for any uninterrupted period of two years since his 15th birthday by the time he is registered with UEFA. Players aged 16 may be registered on List B if they have been registered with the participating club for the previous two years without interruption.

Each club is entitled to register an unlimited number of players on List B during the season. The list must be submitted by no later than midnight CET on the day before the match in question.