Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang axed from Chelsea’s Champions League squad, Enzo Fernandez, Joao Felix and Mykhaylo Mudryk in

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been axed from Chelsea’s squad for the Champions League.

The Blues raised eyebrows with their lavish spending in the January transfer window, with the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Benoit Badiashile brought in for huge fees – and Joao Felix added on loan from Atletico Madrid to bolster Graham Potter’s options.

With the Champions League resuming this month, Chelsea had to juggle their options to make space for their new recruits.

The departure of Jorginho to Arsenal opened up a slot, but further changes were required – and Aubameyang has missed out.

The forward netted twice during the group stage, in the wins over Milan home and away, but he will not get the chance to add to his tally when the Blues face his former club Borussia Dortmund.

Badiashile arrived from Monaco for a fee in the region of £33 million, but he will have to watch the European campaign from the stands after failing to make the 25-man List A squad.

Chelsea List A squad

Goalkeepers

• Kepa Arrizabalaga
• Marcus Bettinelli
• Edouard Mendy

Defenders

• Thiago Silva
• Trevoh Chalobah
• Ben Chilwell
• Reece James
• Kalidou Koulibaly
• Cesar Azpilicueta
• Marc Cucurella
• Wesley Fofana

Midfielders

• Enzo Fernandez
• N’Golo Kante
• Mateo Kovacic
• Christian Pulisic
• Ruben Loftus-Cheek
• Raheem Sterling
• Mason Mount
• Denis Zakaria
• Hakim Ziyech
• Conor Gallagher
• Carney Chukwuemeka

Forwards

• Joao Felix
• Mykhaylo Mudryk
• Kai Havertz

Thiago Silva closing on new deal

Veteran Thiago Silva features on the list, and the Brazilian defender has his sights trained on extending his stay at Stamford Bridge.

“My intention and the club’s intention are the same: to stay together.

‘I know that the club needs me at this moment, I’m here to help, there are young players. I think that with my experience I can help in this process of rebuilding the club. I am here for this, willing to do this. But I know that my responsibility is huge. I know we have a lot of work ahead of us.”

Thiago Silva was handed a one-year deal when he arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020, and is happy to keep proving worthy of fresh terms.

“It was not about the exams I’ve been doing, but how I would perform these years,” the 38-year-old said. “That was my great doubt, my great question. Not because of my capacity, but because we know that when you reach a certain age, you lose something physical.

“I certainly did, but I try to minimise that loss, you know? And I’m very happy here. It’s a club I feel very comfortable in. God willing, we’ll go for a fourth season together.”