Ex-Cherries Star Solanke returns to Spurs UCL Squad

Former AFC Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke could start his first game of the season tonight after being re-added to Tottenham Hotspur’s UEFA Champions League squad ahead of their fixture at home to Borussia Dortmund.

Solanke, who scored 77 goals in 216 appearances for the Cherries, made his return from a long-term injury off the bench in Spurs’ 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup ten days ago, and is now in line to start his first game since May 2025 with both Richarlison (injury) and Mathys Tel (ineligible).

Solanke last played in the Champions League seven years ago; he came on as a substitute in Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Manchester City in 2018.

The 28-year-old scored 16 goals in all competitions for Spurs last season after his £65m move from Bournemouth, and returns at a crucial time for manager Thomas Frank, who is under increasing pressure, with his side winless in five and sat 14^th in the Premier League.

Solanke’s inclusion in the squad comes at the expense of France U21 striker Mathys Tel. Tel had initially been left out of Spurs’ Champions League squad, but was later brought in as an injury replacement for Solanke. However, upon Solanke’s return from injury, UEFA rules state the former Cherries man could only return to the squad if injury replacement Mathys Tel was removed, leaving boss Thomas Frank with a straight choice between the two strikers, in which Solanke was preferred.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on the decision, Thomas Frank said: “I’ve made the decision, it was not a nice decision to make, that’s football so you have to make a decision.

“The way the rules are, the only option was it was either Dom [Solanke] or Matty [Tel] in the squad, I chose Dom. I think Matty has done very well the last couple of games, that’s the crazy thing.

“If I could pick from all the players that are fit, he would start tomorrow. But I can only pick between the two of them and now he’s out of the squad. That’s, of course, a tough one to take for Matty.” [quotes via TottenhamHotspur.com]

With two games remaining in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, Spurs sit 11th, level on points with opponents Dortmund in 10^th, as both sides target a top 8 finish.