Chelsea Set To Add Midfielder to UEFA Champions League Squad After Facundo Buonanotte Exit

After Facundo Buonanotte’s loan switch was cut short on Wednesday, Jan. 14, Chelsea has freed up a spot in their UEFA Champions League squad. And the Blues are reportedly likely to add a young midfielder to their continental squad in the near future.

So, who is the mystery Blues player who is set to represent his side in Europe this term?

Chelsea Will Add a Summer Signing to Champions League Squad

According to The Athletic, Dario Essugo will be added to Chelsea’s Champions League ranks to fill the void left by the exit of Buonanotte, a Brighton & Hove Albion man who has joined Leeds United on loan this week. He is likely to feature against Pafos next Wednesday.

Essugo, who joined the Blues for close to $24 million from Sporting CP last June, has made three appearances across competitions for Chelsea so far. However, due to a lengthy absence forced by a thigh surgery, he is yet to make an appearance in the 2025-26 season.

The 20-year-old Portuguese’s three total appearances all came in last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament won by the Liam Rosenior-coached club in the United States.

Buonanotte, on the other hand, has left Chelsea after featuring in eight overall outings this season. The Argentine even registered one goal and two assists during his loan spell.

Ex-Premier League Striker Issues Warning to Chelsea

Speaking on CBS Sports, former Watford striker Troy Deeney hit out at Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez for his error-strewn performance in a recent 3-2 loss against Arsenal.

“When you talk about Robert Sanchez, you’re not talking about his abilities, i.e., is he good with the ball at his feet, is he a good shot-stopper? Because he shows you in the game that he can do that. It’s mental, and the best goalkeepers are the ones that can stay mentally focussed all the way through,” Deeney said.

READ MORE: Chelsea Bring Forward Transfer Plans To Give Liam Rosenior a Boost

“If you’re looking at any team in any league, the ones that win normally have a goalscorer that can get you 20 goals plus but also a goalkeeper that can save you in big moments. He keeps showing you who he is, he keeps letting you down. It’s mental… he switches off. The bigger the game, the bigger the moment, he normally would be the one they’re worrying about,” the 37-year-old concluded.

Earlier this Wednesday, Jan. 14, Sanchez started Chelsea’s EFL Cup semi-final first-leg loss. He was caught flapping at Declan Rice’s first-half corner and let the ball squeeze under him for Viktor Gyokeres to score the Gunners’ second goal at Stamford Bridge.