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EFL rules require clubs to field homegrown players in league matches

2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 21, 2026, 12:16 PM

Last updated Oct 21, 2026

EFL rules require clubs to field homegrown players in league matches
Summary

The English Football League mandates that clubs in the Championship, League One, and League Two must have at least eight homegrown players registered in their squads. In league matches, clubs are required to name a minimum of seven homegrown players in their matchday squads. A homegrown player is defined as one who has been registered with their current club or any English or Welsh club for three seasons or 36 months prior to turning 21. These rules are not applied in the FA Cup, EFL Cup, or EFL Trophy. The Premier League has a separate set of regulations regarding homegrown players.

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Yahoo SportsBBC Football
By the Numbers
  • •EFL requires eight homegrown players registered per squad.
  • •Clubs must list at least seven homegrown players for matches.
  • •Homegrown players can be from various nationalities if trained in England or Wales.
  • •Players under 21 are exempt from squad counts across EFL leagues.
  • •Goalkeepers are not counted in League One and League Two squad lists.
Latest Updates
  • 12:16 PMYahoo Sports — What are the EFL rules on homegrown players?
  • 12:16 PMBBC Football — What are the EFL rules on homegrown players?
What they're saying
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BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team explains the rules on homegrown players used by the English Football League across the Championship, League One and League Two

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BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team explains the rules on homegrown players used by the English Football League across the Championship, League One and League Two

Related Teams & Leagues
Champions LeagueSoccer

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