CHAMPIONS LEAGUE debutants will wear different shirts to their team-mates this season.

Players making their first appearance in Europe’s premier competition will have special patches on their sleeves commemorating the occasion.

Portraits Sessions - 2026/27 European Club Football Season Kick-offChampions League debut patches are set to feature on kits this season Credit: Getty UEFA Champions League - League Phase DrawThe change will come into effect as the League Phase begins next week Credit: Reuters

The new innovation comes amid ‘s partnership with sports merchandise company Fanatics.

Each patch will be given to Fanatics after matches and distributed to their trading card company Topps.

The one-of-a-kind debut patches will then be turned into signed trading cards.

Similar debut patches were at the World Cup in North America.

And the initiative is now set to hit European club football, beginning as the League Phase gets underway next week.

Stars set to make their debuts include the likes of duo and .

Debut patches are also set to feature in the women’s game, starting with the 2027-28 campaign.

A similar initiative has already been rolled out in the .

Tuesday 8 September
AEK Athens
17:45
League Stage
LASK
Club Brugge
17:45
League Stage
Epl-teamaston-villa
Villa
Real Madrid
Real-madrid
20:00
League Stage
Unnamed2
Inter
Lille
20:00
League Stage
179px-real-betis-logo-svg
Betis
Dortmund
Borussia-dortmund
20:00
League Stage
Villarreal-logo
Villarreal
Porto
20:00
League Stage
Epl-teammanchester-city
Man City
Wednesday 26 August
Lyon
1 – 2
AGG 2 – 3
Fenerbahçe
Celje
1 – 2
AGG 2 – 3
Slovan
Viking
3 – 1
AGG 5 – 3
Dinamo Zagreb
AEK Athens
4 – 0
AGG 4 – 0
Levski
Tuesday 25 August
Bodø/Glimt
3 – 0
AGG 6 – 1
NEC
LASK
5 – 1
AGG 5 – 4
Celtic
UEFA Champions League Pld Pts GD W D L
1
AEK Athens
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
Bodø/Glimt
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
0
0
0
0
0
0

And a rookie debut patch card signed by 2025 No1 pick Cooper Flagg is expected to fetch a staggering $5 million (£3.7m) next week.

Uefa initially signed with Fanatics in 2022 and the two parties have agreed a long-term extension to 2033.

President Aleksander Ceferin said: “Renewing our partnership with Fanatics for UEefa club competitions reflects the strength of our collaboration and our shared commitment to delivering best-in-class products for fans and collectors globally.

“Fanatics know how to make big moments feel special. We are excited for what’s next.”

UEFA Champions League 2026/27 league phase draw in MonacoAleksander Ceferin was delighted to extend the Fanatics deal Credit: Getty