3 Chelsea stars in top 10 

Osimhen, Palmer and Fernandes - Most valuable players not in Champions League

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The Champions League returned this week in its brand new format with a 36-team league phase replacing the group stages before the knockout rounds. Holders Real Madrid started the defence of their trophy with a 3-1 win over Stuttgart while Bayern Munich scored the most goals in one game in the competition’s history in their 9-2 rout of Dinamo Zagreb. 

The majority of European football’s biggest clubs are competing to win the most prestigious club competition but there are some notable absentees. Chelsea have the fourth most valuable squad in the world valued at €948 million on Transfermarkt’s market values but Enzo Maresca’s men are in the Europa Conference League. Manchester United and Tottenham both feature in the top ten most valuable squads but the English duo are amongst the favourites for the Europa League. The best players in the world will feature in the Champions League this season but we’ve analysed the most valuable players to miss out!

The most valuable players missing the Champions League

Victor Osimhen’s loan move to Galatasaray was one of the biggest deals of the summer window and the Nigerian international is the most valuable star not playing in the Champions League this season. Valued at €100m, Osimhen would have missed out on European football altogether had he remained at Napoli after they finished ninth in Serie A last season but he will feature in the Europa League with Galatasaray. As the graphic below illustrates, Bruno Guimarães ranks second at €85m. 

Newcastle United returned to the Champions League last season for the first time in 20 years but they aren’t in Europe this campaign. Guimares is joined by his Newcastle teammate Alexander Isak in the top ten list alongside five other Premier League players. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Moisés Caicedo are in the top five, with Enzo Fernandez in sixth. Tottenham’s James Maddison and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes also feature alongside Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Athletic Club’s Nico Williams.