Why Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu and Leny Yoro are wearing different kits to Man Utd teammates vs Sabah

The new Champions League sleeve patch was seen at Old Trafford on Thursday night as Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu and Leny Yoro wore the one-off kit in Manchester United's clash against Sabah.

Players making their first appearance in the competition will now wear special debut patches as part of a Champions League initiative between UEFA and sports merchandising giant Fanatics.

The patch incorporates the word debut into the Champions League’s iconic ‘starball’ logo and will be displayed on the sleeve of the player’s shirt.

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After the player has made their debut, the patch will be removed and handed over to Topps, the Fanatics-owned trading card company, where it will be incorporated into a one-of-a-kind card. The player will then sign the card before it is placed into a collectable pack.

Unused substitutes will not be eligible, meaning a player must actually take to the pitch before their patch can be turned into a card. However, those who come off the bench to make their Champions League debut will qualify.

Mbuemo made his Champions League debut on Thursday night. Image credit: Getty

Ayden Heaven, for example, has been named on the bench for United's Champions League opener against Sabah, but if Michael Carrick's decides to give him minutes, the patch will become active.

Of course, each card will be unique and could command eye-watering sums on the collectors’ market, where particularly rare cards have previously sold for well over £100,000 - and, in exceptional cases, millions.

The initiative is also expected to be introduced in the Women’s Champions League from next season.

Which Premier League players have already worn a special patch?

Arsenal summer signing Illan Meslier has yet to make his Champions League bow, so he will be hoping to wear the patch in the coming weeks after missing out against Napoli on Wednesday.

Zion Suzuki and Joao Gomes could be seen sporting the special debut patch in Aston Villa's 3-2 win over Club Brugge on Tuesday night. Johan Manzambi. Modou Kéba Cisse and Brian Madjo are also eligible.

Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz also wore the patch on Wednesday during Liverpool's clash against Atletico Madrid.

Iliman Ndiaye was another Champions League debutant this week, with his substitute appearance against Porto marking a special occasion for the attacking midfielder, who joined from Everton this summer.

And as mentioned above, Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sported the special patch at Old Trafford on Thursday night. Karl Darlow, Tom Heaton, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven and Carlos Baleba are waiting to get their chance.