TURIN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 01: Edon Zhegrova of Juventus applauds the fans after the team's victory in the Serie A match between Juventus and SSC Napoli at Allianz Stadium on November 01, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 01: Edon Zhegrova of Juventus applauds the fans after the team's victory in the Serie A match between Juventus and SSC Napoli at Allianz Stadium on November 01, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Juventus have added Jeff Ekhator to their UEFA squad list in place of injured captain Manuel Locatelli, and the competition’s registration rules decided it ahead of Edon Zhegrova.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, the Bianconeri have finally replaced Locatelli, who had knee surgery on his meniscus in September and isn’t expected back until next year. Ekhator returned to the squad for Sunday’s 2-0 win over Napoli after a long injury lay-off.
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On form, Zhegrova would have been the obvious choice. The winger has looked sharper in recent weeks and is one of Luciano Spalletti’s few fit attacking options, but he isn’t eligible.
CREMONA, ITALY - OCTOBER 14: Jeff Ekhator of Italy celebrates after scoring the 5-1 goal during the UEFA Euro U21 Qualification match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
CREMONA, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Jeff Ekhator of Italy celebrates after scoring the 5-1 goal during the UEFA Euro U21 Qualification match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
UEFA’s homegrown rules explained as Juventus register Ekhator
UEFA requires every 25-man A list to include a minimum number of locally trained players: four trained at the club itself and up to four trained at other clubs in the same country.
Locatelli, who came through the youth system at Milan, counts as one of Juve’s association-trained players. That means he can only be swapped for a player in the same category.
REGGIO NELL'EMILIA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 13: Edon Zhegrova of Juventus celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and Juventus at Mapei Stadium - Citta' del Tricolore on September 13, 2026 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 13: Edon Zhegrova of Juventus celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and Juventus at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on September 13, 2026 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
Ekhator, a product of Genoa’s academy, fits that requirement. Zhegrova had never played in Italy before joining Juventus, so he would have taken one of the 17 unrestricted places, and those are already full.