Reiss Nelson will miss Feyenoord's Champions League clash against FC Barcelona on Wednesday due to a work permit delay, dealing a blow to Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side ahead of one of the competition's marquee fixtures. The 26-year-old English winger, who joined the Dutch club on a free transfer from Arsenal last week, has yet to receive clearance to play in UEFA competitions, forcing him to sit out the high-stakes encounter at Camp Nou.
Nelson's absence comes despite optimism from Van Bronckhorst on Friday, when the manager expressed confidence the paperwork would arrive in time. The delay kept the former Arsenal man sidelined for Saturday's away trip to NEC as well, though Feyenoord still secured a commanding 3-1 victory in Nijmegen. The winger's inability to feature represents an administrative setback rather than an injury concern, potentially leaving Van Bronckhorst to rearrange his attacking options for one of the season's biggest tests.
Nelson's Return and European Pedigree
This marks Nelson's second spell with Feyenoord after a successful loan from Arsenal during the 2021/22 season, when he made 32 appearances and contributed 11 goal-involvement moments with four goals and seven assists. His previous experience in European football and familiarity with the club's setup make the timing of his unavailability particularly frustrating. Van Bronckhorst will now need to call upon alternative solutions in wide positions for the Barcelona fixture.
On a more positive note for the Rotterdam club, Anis Hadj Moussa has travelled to Barcelona and stands to feature after missing the NEC encounter. Van Bronckhorst is expected to hand the midfielder a starting role, with the final lineup confirmed on Wednesday. The fixture kicks off at 18:45 CET, with Feyenoord's first home Champions League League Phase match following on 14 October when Como visit De Kuip.
- Nelson joined Feyenoord on a free transfer from Arsenal last week
- Contract signed through summer 2027
- Work permit delay forces absence from Barcelona and NEC matches
- Previous loan spell yielded 32 appearances and 11 goal contributions
