Champions League: UEFA introduces debut patches for first-time players
Players making their first appearances in the UEFA Champions League will wear special “debut patches” on their jerseys during the 2026-27 season. This initiative, announced as part of a new partnership between UEFA and Fanatics, aims to celebrate milestone moments in the tournament.
The patches will be featured on the sleeves of jerseys, prominently displaying the word “debut” alongside the tournament’s iconic starball logo.
After the match, the patches will be removed and sent to Topps, a trading card company owned by Fanatics. These patches will be incorporated into unique trading cards, which players will sign. The authenticity of the patches will be verified before the cards are made available to collectors.
Players who enter the match as substitutes will also be eligible for the special patches, although those named on the matchday squad who do not play will have to wait until they take the field to qualify.
