Shakhtar names 29-man squad for Champions League main round: Tvardovskyi and Matturo left out

Dnipro-based Shakhtar has confirmed the squad that will enter the main round of the 2026/27 Champions League season. The coaching staff, led by Arda Turan, presented a list of 29 players, which includes both key performers and a number of newcomers who joined the club during the summer transfer window. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the official website of the Ukrainian champions.

Squad list and personnel decisions

The list for the European campaign features 29 players. The team has retained its core of first-team players, yet the coaching staff made several notable personnel decisions that attracted the attention of fans and journalists. The squad includes both experienced leaders and young players vying for a place in the starting line-up in the new season.

Who was left out of the list

Left out of the main round Champions League list are goalkeeper Denys Tvardovskyi, defender Alan Matturo, as well as forwards Eguinaldo and Prosper Obi. It is noted that the absence of the expensive centre-back Matturo from the squad was one of the most discussed decisions by Arda Turan's staff ahead of the start of European competition.

Newcomers in the squad

A place in the Champions League list was earned, in particular, by the "miners'" summer signings: Oleksandr Karavayev, Gabriel Carvalho, Ryan Roberto, Bruninho and Gleiker Mendoza. Their inclusion in the squad underscores the coaching staff's trust in the reinforcements and their readiness to use the new players already in the main round matches of the tournament.

Calendar and home matches

The "miners" will kick off their main round Champions League campaign on 10 September. The Ukrainian team's first opponent will be the Dutch side PSV; the match will be played away and will kick off at 19:45 Kyiv time. Shakhtar will host its home European matches this season in London at Stamford Bridge. In September, Arda Turan's team faces a busy schedule: over the course of two weeks the "miners" will play five matches — one in the Ukrainian Cup, three in the league and one in the Champions League.