Tottenham Hotspur has made a change to their Champions League squad, replacing England international Dominic Solanke with Mathys Tel. The change comes ahead of their match against Slavia Prague.

The decision to replace Solanke stems from a long-term ankle injury that has sidelined him for over 60 days. UEFA regulations permit such squad alterations in the event of a player's extended absence before the sixth matchday of the league phase. Solanke, who joined Tottenham from Bournemouth in a £65 million deal in the summer of 2024, has struggled with fitness issues, limiting his impact. He has not started a match this season and has been absent from training since October after a minor procedure.

Mathys Tel, a summer signing who was initially excluded from the Champions League squad due to squad size restrictions, now has the opportunity to feature in the competition. Tottenham was initially over the limit of 22 players due to a lack of homegrown, locally-trained players. However, a UEFA rule allows teams to substitute a player who has been ill or injured for a minimum of 60 days, opening the door for Tel's inclusion.

Manager Thomas Frank expressed that he would have made different squad choices initially had he foreseen Solanke's injury. The UEFA rule stipulates that Solanke can replace Tel in the squad once he regains fitness. Tottenham has been able to register the required number of association-trained players, including Djed Spence, Archie Gray, Ben Davies, and Brennan Johnson, which allows Solanke to be replaced by Tel.

Despite limited starts, Tel has made 13 appearances this season, scoring two Premier League goals. The 20-year-old French forward will be looking to make an impact in the Champions League after being given this opportunity.