Man Utd must have eight homegrown players in their Premier League squad if they want to submit a 25-man list.
Manchester United will likely have to sign another homegrown player if they want to submit a 25-man squad to the Premier League for next season.
United submitted a 21-man squad to the Premier League last summer, bolstered by several first-team regulars being named in the Under-21 section (U21s do not need to be registered).
The list that was resubmitted after January was extended to a 23-man squad, but United are expected to name a maximum of 25 players for 2026/27, in which the club could play 60 games or more across all competitions.
Premier League rules require at least eight players in a 25-man squad to be homegrown. The Premier League’s definition of a homegrown player is any player who has been trained by a club in the United Kingdom for at least three years before their 21st birthday.
A club’s U21 players are not included on the 25-man squad lists. These players are also eligible to play in the Premier League.
The Champions League’s definition is slightly different, as UEFA requires clubs to register eight homegrown players, however, four of those have to be ‘club-trained’, while the other four can be trained by other English academies. A club homegrown player is someone who has been at the club for three years between the ages of 15 and 21.
The members of United’s squad who are eligible for Premier League homegrown status are Tom Heaton, Dermot Mee, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Toby Collyer, Mason Mount and Amad.
That makes up eight homegrown players, but Collyer’s future is uncertain after spending a season on loan in the Championship. The 22-year-old wants to play regular football at this stage of his career, and all options for a departure are on the table this summer.
If Collyer leaves, which is likely, United would have to add another homegrown player to the squad, which partly explains why the Reds are interested in goalkeepers Karl Dalow and Sam Johnstone. Goalkeeper Radek Vitek would qualify as homegrown but he looks like he could leave this summer.
Mainoo and Dorgu were both U21 players last season, but they have since turned 21. Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro do not have to be included on the list because both defenders are still below the age of 21.
United’s potential 25-man Premier League squad
Goalkeepers: Tom Heaton*, Dermot Mee*, Senne Lammens, new signing.
Defenders: Harry Maguire*, Luke Shaw*, Kobbie Mainoo*, Patrick Dorgu, Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, new signing.
Midfielders: Mason Mount*, Toby Collyer*, Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte, Ederson, new signing.
Forwards: Amad*, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Joshua Zirkzee, new signing.
* = Classified as homegrown.
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