Ivorian defender Evan Ndicka has been included in AS Roma’s squad for the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League league phase as the Italian club prepares to return to Europe’s premier club competition.
Roma submitted their squad to UEFA on Wednesday ahead of the new European campaign, with Ndicka among the 25 players selected by the Giallorossi.
The Rome club will compete in the Champions League for the first time since the 2018-19 season after spending several recent campaigns in the Europa League.
For Ndicka, the inclusion represents a return to a competition in which he has already gained experience. The 26-year-old made his Champions League debut with Eintracht Frankfurt during the 2022-23 season.
He played eight matches in that campaign, starting every game, and contributed one assist.
Ndicka has also been involved in Roma’s domestic campaign this season. He has played twice in Serie A, completing 180 minutes without scoring or providing an assist.
However, he was not included in Roma’s squad for their trip to Lecce after suffering a muscular problem during the warm-up.
The defender was a regular figure for Roma last season under Gian Piero Gasperini. He made 31 Serie A appearances and scored three goals.
His European involvement was also significant, with Ndicka making 10 appearances in the Europa League and scoring twice.
Roma’s return to the Champions League will present the club with a demanding schedule, with Paris Saint-Germain among the high-profile opponents they are due to face in the new league phase.
The competition is scheduled to begin in September, giving Roma the opportunity to return to the level of European football they experienced during their previous Champions League campaign.
Ndicka will be among the African players representing Roma in the competition and will have another opportunity to compete against some of Europe’s leading clubs.
His previous Champions League experience came with Frankfurt, but his latest involvement comes after establishing himself as an important member of Roma’s squad.
The Ivorian’s selection also comes despite his early-season muscular problem, which ruled him out of the matchday squad for the journey to Lecce.
Roma’s 25-man Champions League squad contains a mixture of experienced players and younger members of the first-team group.
The goalkeepers selected are Devis Vásquez, Giorgio De Marzi, Alessio Marcaccini, Pierluigi Gollini and Mile Svilar.
Ndicka is included in a defensive group that also features Leonardo Balerdi, Devyne Rensch, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Anass Salah-Eddine, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi.
The midfield options are Marten de Roon, Bryan Cristante, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora.
Roma have selected Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala and Antonio Arena as their forwards.
The Champions League campaign will give Roma a chance to measure themselves against some of Europe’s strongest teams after their recent involvement in the Europa League.
For Ndicka, it marks the beginning of another Champions League chapter. Having already experienced the competition with Eintracht Frankfurt, the defender will now look to contribute to Roma’s attempt to make an impact on their return to the continent’s elite club tournament.
Roma’s inclusion of Ndicka in their UEFA squad confirms that he remains part of their plans for the European campaign, despite the muscular issue that recently kept him out of the squad for the Lecce trip.
The Giallorossi will begin their Champions League league-phase campaign in September, with Ndicka set to have another opportunity to compete at the highest level of European club football.
