Galatasaray Submit Star-Studded Champions League Squad as Five Senior Players Are Omitted
Turkish champions Galatasaray have confirmed the squad they will use during the main phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League. After an aggressive summer recruitment drive, head coach Okan Buruk has completed the club’s UEFA List A registration, selecting a group packed with experience, international quality and attacking talent.
The Istanbul side strengthened almost every area of the team during the transfer window. Among the most notable arrivals are Portuguese winger Rafael Leão and German forward Leroy Sané, while Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen remains the focal point of Galatasaray’s attacking plans.
The club also added considerable depth in midfield and defence. Former Germany international İlkay Gündoğan brings leadership and Champions League experience, while Lesley Ugochukwu offers athleticism and defensive coverage. Russian attacking midfielder Aleksey Batrakov has also joined the group, alongside defenders El Chadaille Bitshiabu and Wilfried Singo.
Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League squad
Goalkeepers
– Uğurcan Çakır
– Günay Güvenç
– Jankat Yılmaz
– Enes Emre Büyük
Defenders
– Abdülkerim Bardakcı
– Davinson Sánchez
– El Chadaille Bitshiabu
– Wilfried Singo
– Eren Elmalı
– Ismail Jakobs
– Roland Sallai
Midfielders
– Aleksey Batrakov
– Gabriel Sara
– İlkay Gündoğan
– Mario Lemina
– Lucas Torreira
– Renato Nhaga
– Lesley Ugochukwu
– Yunus Akgün
Forwards
– Victor Osimhen
– Barış Alper Yılmaz
– Rafael Leão
– Leroy Sané
– Deniz Gül
The selection gives Buruk a wide range of tactical options. Osimhen provides a powerful presence in the penalty area, while Leão and Sané can supply pace, dribbling ability and creativity from the flanks. Barış Alper Yılmaz adds versatility, having shown that he can operate both as a winger and as a central attacker.
In midfield, Galatasaray can combine Torreira’s ball-winning qualities with Gündoğan’s composure and passing range. Gabriel Sara and Batrakov offer additional creativity, while Ugochukwu and Lemina provide physical strength and protection in front of the defence.
Five senior players left out
Despite the strength of the final squad, five senior players were not included in the Champions League registration. The omissions are linked to UEFA’s restrictions concerning squad composition and the number of players who qualify as locally trained footballers.
The players excluded from the European list are:
– Kaan Ayhan
– Kazımcan Karataş
– Eyüp Aydın
– Arda Ünyay
– Can Armando Güner
Their absence from the Champions League squad does not prevent them from representing Galatasaray in domestic competitions. All five remain available for Trendyol Süper Lig matches and Ziraat Turkish Cup fixtures during the opening part of the season.
The decision reflects the difficulty of balancing a large squad with UEFA’s registration requirements. Clubs cannot simply include every senior player they have under contract, particularly when the roster contains a significant number of foreign players and recent international arrivals.
Room for changes before the knockout phase
Galatasaray may have an opportunity to revise its European squad before the Champions League knockout rounds begin in February. Any changes would depend on UEFA regulations, player availability and the club’s competitive priorities at that stage of the season.
That possibility could become important if injuries affect the registered group or if certain players establish themselves as essential options during the league phase. It may also give the club a chance to include one or more of the omitted players should squad circumstances change.
For now, Buruk must work with the submitted List A group during the main phase of the competition. The depth of the roster should help Galatasaray manage a demanding schedule that combines European fixtures with the domestic title race and cup commitments.
High expectations in Istanbul
The scale of Galatasaray’s recruitment has raised expectations among supporters. The club enters the Champions League as the reigning Turkish champion and has assembled a squad capable of competing with established European teams.
The presence of players such as Gündoğan, Sané, Leão and Osimhen gives Galatasaray a level of individual quality that could make the team dangerous against stronger opponents. At the same time, the squad’s success will depend on how quickly the new signings adapt to Buruk’s tactical approach.
Defensive organisation will be particularly important. Galatasaray have invested in central defensive options, but integrating new players such as Bitshiabu and Singo into a consistent back line may require time. The balance between attacking ambition and defensive discipline could determine how far the Turkish champions progress.
The registration confirms Galatasaray’s intention to make a serious impact in Europe. Although five senior players have been left out because of quota limitations, the official Champions League squad remains deep, experienced and full of attacking potential.