Can January signings play in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League knockouts?

What are the rules on January signings?

The UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League knockout hopefuls are allowed to register a maximum of three new eligible players during the winter. Since 2018/19, it no longer matters whether those players have already played in the competition for another club, even for another club still in the competition. 

When will squad changes be confirmed?

Clubs have until 24:00 CET on Thursday 2 February to communicate their desired squad changes. Once all teams' changes are approved by UEFA in each competition, the full list of ins and outs will be published on UEFA.com.

Notable recent winter squad additions

Borussia Dortmund/Getty Images

Mykhailo Mudryk (Shakhtar Donetsk to Chelsea, 2023)
Luis Díaz (Porto to Liverpool, 2022)
Dominik Szoboszlai (Salzburg to Leipzig, 2021)
Erling Haaland (Salzburg to Dortmund, 2020)
Dani Olmo (Dinamo Zagreb to Leipzig, 2020)
Pepe (Beşiktaş to Porto, 2019)
Virgil van Dijk (Southampton to Liverpool, 2018)

What do the regulations say about squad changes?

Here are the relevant extracts from the UEFA Champions League regulations:

• 46.01: As of the round of 16, a club may register a maximum of three new eligible players for the remaining matches in the current competition. Such registration must be completed by 2 February 2024 (24.00CET) at the latest. This deadline cannot be extended.

• 46.02: Any or all of the players from the above quota of three may have been fielded for another club in the qualifying phase, play-offs or group stage of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League or UEFA Europa Conference League.

For further details about player registration at this stage of the season, check out Article 46 of the regulations in full.

Here are the relevant extracts from the UEFA Europa League regulations:

• 46.01: As of the knockout round play-offs, a club may register a maximum of three new eligible players for the remaining matches in the current competition. Such registration must be completed by 2 February 2024 (24.00CET) at the latest. This deadline cannot be extended.

• 46.02: Any or all of the players from the above quota of three may have been fielded for another club in the qualifying phase, play-offs or group stage of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League or UEFA Europa Conference League.

For further details about player registration at this stage of the season, check out Article 46 of the regulations in full.

Here are the relevant extracts from the UEFA Europa Conference League regulations:

• 46.01: As of the knockout round play-offs, a club may register a maximum of three new eligible players for the remaining matches in the current competition. Such registration must be completed by 2 February 2024 (24.00CET) at the latest. This deadline cannot be extended.

• 46.02: Any or all of the players from the above quota of three may have been fielded for another club in the qualifying phase, play-offs or group stage of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League or UEFA Europa Conference League.

For further details about player registration at this stage of the season, check out Article 46 of the regulations in full.