Players making their Champions League debuts this season will wear a commemorative sleeve patch as part of a new UEFA partnership with Fanatics Collectibles.
The initiative will give first-time participants in Europe’s leading club competition a small emblem to display on their shirts, symbolising their first appearance in the tournament.
The Champions League begins again next week, with holders Paris Saint-Germain seeking to retain the trophy after winning the competition in each of the past two seasons.
The new debut recognition scheme was revealed by journalist David Ornstein before the start of the campaign. The patch will not only be worn during a player’s first Champions League appearance but will also feature in a special trading card produced by Fanatics Collectibles.
Each card will be signed by the player before being included in packs available for supporters and collectors to purchase. The collaboration gives fans the opportunity to own a physical item linked directly to a player’s first experience of the competition.
The programme is also scheduled to expand beyond the men’s tournament. According to Ornstein, the same initiative will be introduced in the Women’s Champions League from the 2027-28 season.
Michael Rubin, Founder and CEO of Fanatics, said the launch had particular significance because it was being announced immediately before the new Champions League campaign.
“The timing of this announcement – on the eve of the Champions League season – is incredibly meaningful for us, especially as Fanatics Collectibles continues to meaningfully expand its footprint across Europe,” said Michael Rubin, Founder and CEO of Fanatics.
“Together, UEFA and Fanatics will continue to bring innovative products to fans and collectors for years to come – and through new introductions like the Debut Patch, bring them even closer to the players and clubs they love and support.”
The scheme follows the Champions League debuts of several highly regarded young players last season. Max Dowman, Konstantinos Karetsas, Lennart Karl, Estevao and Rio Ngumoha all made their first appearances in the competition during the previous campaign.
Their debuts now provide an indication of how the new initiative will work, with each player potentially associated with a signed collectible marking that milestone.
Attention will turn to this season’s new arrivals when the competition gets under way next week. The patch will offer a visible way to identify players experiencing the Champions League for the first time, while their signed cards will give fans and collectors a permanent record of the occasion.