Celtic fans excited by potential January signings should be aware of a key UEFA regulation that will prevent any new arrivals from participating in the remaining Champions League league phase matches.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers before the match REUTERS/Antonio Bronic
This means that any players signed during the winter transfer window will not be eligible to feature in Matchday 7 at home against Young Boys or Matchday 8 away to Aston Villa.
The confusion among some supporters stems from a misunderstanding of UEFA’s regulations regarding player registration. According to Rule 32.01 in the official UEFA Champions League Regulations:
“After the completion of the league phase and before the start of the knockout phase, a club may register a maximum of three new eligible players for the remaining matches in the current competition. Such registrations must be completed by 6 February 2025 (24:00 CET) at the latest.”
This means that any new signings made in January cannot be registered until after the league phase concludes. Therefore, they will be unavailable for Celtic’s crucial final two fixtures in the Champions League league phase against Young Boys and Aston Villa.
If Celtic progress to the knockout rounds of the Champions League, they can register up to three new players before the 6 February 2025 deadline. These players would then be eligible for the Round of 16 and beyond. Until then, Brendan Rodgers will have to rely on his current squad for the remaining league-phase fixtures.
This rule may influence how Celtic approach the January transfer window. While adding quality to the squad remains a priority for domestic and future European ambitions, the immediate impact of new signings in Europe will be limited.
If players like Kieran Tierney or Michel-Ange Balikwisha arrive, their focus will be on strengthening the team for the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup, and potential knockout-phase matches.
