Galatasaray have submitted their List A squad for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League group stage, finalised by head coach Okan Buruk on 5 September 2026. Five senior players were omitted from the European roster due to UEFA's limits on non-locally trained players. onefootball.com first reported the story.
The announcement comes as Galatasaray sit top of the Trendyol Süper Lig with 10 points from 4 games, boasting a record of 3 wins and 1 draw. They lead second-placed Gençlerbirliği S.K. By 3 points and have scored 12 goals while conceding 6. This context is visible on the club's standings page.
Which players made the Champions League squad?
Galatasaray's summer reinforcements feature prominently in the submitted list. Marquee signings Rafael Leão and Leroy Sané are included, alongside striker Victor Osimhen. Further additions across the pitch include İlkay Gündoğan, Lesley Ugochukwu, and Aleksey Batrakov. The defensive loans of El Chadaille Bitshiabu and Wilfried Singo also made the cut.
The goalkeeper contingent comprises Uğurcan Çakır, Günay Güvenç, Jankat Yılmaz, and Enes Emre Büyük. Defenders named are Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Davinson Sánchez, Bitshiabu, Singo, Eren Elmalı, Ismail Jakobs, and Roland Sallai. Midfielders include Batrakov, Gabriel Sara, Gündoğan, Mario Lemina, Lucas Torreira, Renato Nhaga, Ugochukwu, and Yunus Akgün. The forward line consists of Osimhen, Barış Alper Yılmaz, Leão, Sané, and Deniz Gül.
Why were five senior players left out?
The omission of five experienced squad members is a direct consequence of UEFA's strict quotas for locally trained players. This regulation forced manager Okan Buruk into a difficult selection process. Kaan Ayhan, Kazımcan Karataş, Eyüp Aydın, Arda Ünyay, and Can Armando Güner were all excluded from the Champions League list.
These players will only be eligible for Süper Lig and Ziraat Turkish Cup fixtures during the first half of the season. There is scope to revise the squad list before the knockout rounds commence in February. The full squad details are available on the club's squad page.
How did injuries influence the squad selection?
Injury concerns played a part in the final squad composition. Defender El Chadaille Bitshiabu and striker Victor Osimhen are currently sidelined, a factor the technical staff had to consider. The latest injury updates can be followed on the injuries page.
Galatasaray's next fixture is a home match against 7th-placed Rizespor on 6 December 2026, which will serve as a final test before their European campaign resumes.
