UEFA is introducing special "debut patches" for players who are making their first appearance in the UEFA Champions League starting in the 2026/27 season. These patches will be placed on the sleeves of their jerseys and will have the word "debut" along with the Champions League logo. After the game, the patches will be removed and sent to Topps, a trading card company, to create unique trading cards signed by the players. This initiative is part of a partnership between UEFA and Fanatics, and it also allows substitutes who play for the first time to receive these patches. However, players who are on the bench but do not play will have to wait for their actual game debut to get one. The Champions League season kicks off on September 8, featuring 36 teams. There are plans to extend this debut patch program to the Women’s Champions League starting in the 2027/28 season. This program is an expansion of Fanatics' debut patch idea, which has been used in other sports like baseball, basketball, and football. UEFA's president, Aleksander Čeferin, emphasized the strong partnership with Fanatics, aiming to create exciting products for fans and collectors. The unique trading cards could become valuable, as seen with a recent card selling for $1.1 million. Some notable players, like Real Madrid’s new signing Yan Diomande, could be among the first to wear these debut patches this season.
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