Reiss Nelson to miss FC Barcelona vs Feyenoord Champions League clash due to work permit delay

According to Rijnmond club watcher Dennis van Eersel, Reiss Nelson will not play for Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League match against FC Barcelona on Wednesday. The English winger still does not have his work permit, leaving head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst unable to use him for the trip to Barcelona. Feyenoord have not officially confirmed the news, but Van Eersel's post on X on Tuesday made the situation clear. Last week, Feyenoord completed the signing of Nelson on a free transfer. The 26-year-old left Arsenal after falling out of the picture at the Emirates Stadium and signed a contract with Feyenoord until the summer of 2027. The move was meant to add squad depth for the Rotterdam club as they compete on several fronts. However, because Nelson is an English national, the Dutch club must process his work permit before he can play. That process was not completed in time for the Barcelona match. Van Bronckhorst was optimistic on Friday when he said he hoped Nelson's work permit would arrive in time for the Barcelona trip. By Tuesday, that had not happened. For the same reason, Nelson also missed Saturday's away match against NEC. Without him, Feyenoord still won 3-1 in Nijmegen. Nelson is not a stranger to Feyenoord supporters. During the 2026/22 season, he played for the Dutch club on loan from Arsenal. In 32 appearances, the winger scored four goals and provided seven assists. That successful spell helped Nelson earn trust from the coaching staff, even though many years have passed since he left Arsenal as a free agent. With Nelson unavailable, Feyenoord still have attacking options to trouble Barcelona. Anis Hadj Moussa, who missed the NEC match, has travelled to Barcelona as normal. There is a strong chance Van Bronckhorst will give Hadj Moussa a starting place. The official line-ups will be announced on Wednesday. Kick-off in Barcelona is at 18:45 on Wednesday. Feyenoord's first home match in the Champions League league phase follows on 14 October, when Como visit Rotterdam. That will be another opportunity for Nelson if the work permit is finally granted. Given the busy schedule, the Dutch club need Nelson available as soon as possible. The issue now is not football but paperwork.