• Champions League

Lukaku left out of Chelsea's Champions League squad

ESPNsoccernet staff
September 2, 2011
Romelu Lukaku made his Chelsea debut against Norwich © Getty Images
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Chelsea's £18 million signing Romelu Lukaku has been left out of the club's 22-man squad for the group stage of the Champions League.

Lukaku, 18, was signed by Chelsea during the summer transfer window from Anderlecht having impressed in Belgium's top flight with his goalscoring form. The striker made his competitive debut for the Blues in August's 3-1 Premier League win over Norwich, coming on as an 83rd minute substitute for Fernando Torres.

But, as he does not qualify as a homegrown player in Europe, Chelsea have been forced to leave the Belgium international out of their Champions League squad, despite the high price paid for his signature.

Given only four of the eight homegrown players can be "association trained'', England Under-21 international left-back Ryan Bertrand is another not included.

A loan move to Stoke had been mooted for Lukaku on Tuesday but the transfer was prevented as Premier League rules state a player cannot join another club on loan if he has been registered in the same transfer window.

Andre Villas-Boas' side have been paired against Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen and Genk in Group E of this season's Champions League. Chelsea's other summer signings Oriol Romeu, Juan Mata and Raul Meireles are all in the 22-man group.

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