Facundo Buonanotte’s loan move has opened a spot in Chelsea’s Champions League squad.
Chelsea will play their next Champions League match on Wednesday against Pafos from Cyprus.
Currently, Chelsea has three wins, one draw, and two losses in the group stage. They need to improve their performance to secure a top-eight spot and a direct entry into the round of 16.
Following Buonanotte’s loan transfer to Leeds United for the season, Chelsea is expected to make some changes to their squad, and a 20-year-old midfielder is likely to get more opportunities.
Dario Essugo set for Champions League return following injury
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Dario Essugo is now fit and will be included in the Champions League squad for the remainder of the season.
This is a notable change as Essugo was previously left out of the European squad to accommodate Buonanotte.
According to The Athletic, he will be officially registered before Chelsea’s match against Pafos on Wednesday.
In Essugo’s position, the midfield options include Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, and Andrey Santos, while Romeo Lavia is still recovering from injury.
When Dario Essugo made his three appearances for Chelsea
Essugo’s first-team contributions have come during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where he played in three matches in June.
A long-term injury has kept him out of Premier League and domestic cup matches since then.
Enzo Maresca has praised the young midfielder, who joined Chelsea last summer and made a strong impression early on.
With Marc Guiu’s recent debut against Arsenal, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Essugo get playing time once he is fully fit.
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