Crystal Palace has officially excluded Nigerian international Christantus Uche from their updated 24-man roster for the UEFA Europa Conference League knockout stages. The South London club submitted their final squad list to UEFA on Monday, revealing that the attacking midfielder will no longer participate in their continental campaign. Manager Oliver Glasner chose to sacrifice Uche’s spot to accommodate a trio of high-profile January arrivals, including Brennan Johnson, Jørgen Strand Larsen, and Evann Guessand, as the Eagles look to bolster their offensive options for the tournament’s latter rounds.
The 22-year-old joined the Eagles from Spanish side Getafe last summer on a season-long loan agreement that features a significant £17.3 million obligation to buy. However, this permanent transfer clause only activates if Uche records at least 10 starts in the Premier League—a milestone that currently seems out of reach. Despite making 13 domestic appearances, the Super Eagles star has started only once in the league, largely serving as a late-game substitute. His European contribution has been slightly more substantial, featuring in four Conference League fixtures and providing a memorable goal, yet this was not enough to secure his place in the revised squad.
“Uche was dropped to make way for new signings Brennan Johnson, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Evann Guessand,” reports confirmed following the release of the official registration list.
This tactical omission signals a challenging period for the Owerri-born talent, who appears likely to return to Getafe at the end of the current campaign. While Uche arrived at Selhurst Park with high expectations after a successful stint in La Liga, he has struggled to establish himself within Glasner’s rigid starting XI. His current tally of one goal across all competitions reflects the difficulty he has faced in adapting to the physicality and speed of the English game compared to his previous technical success in Spain.
With the Europa Conference League knockout ties approaching, Crystal Palace prioritized the immediate impact of their multi-million-pound winter acquisitions. Uche must now focus exclusively on domestic opportunities if he hopes to convince the club to reconsider his future before the June deadline. For now, the Nigerian playmaker remains on the fringes of the first team, serving as a cautionary tale of the fierce competition for squad spots in Europe’s most demanding leagues.
About the Author
