Clubs competing in the Championship, League One, and League Two must follow specific EFL regulations regarding homegrown players and squad composition. These rules govern player registration quotas for league matches and differ from the system used in the Premier League.
Homegrown Player Requirements
Across the three EFL divisions, clubs are required to register a minimum of eight homegrown players within their squad. Furthermore, clubs must name at least seven homegrown players in their matchday squad for any league fixture.
The EFL defines a homegrown player as an individual who has been registered with their current club, or any other English or Welsh club, for a duration of three seasons or 36 months. This registration must take place prior to either their 21st birthday or the end of the season in which the player turns 21.
These requirements apply exclusively to league matches and are not enforced by the EFL for fixtures in the FA Cup, EFL Cup, or EFL Trophy. The Premier League maintains its own distinct set of rules concerning squad lists and homegrown quotas.
Because the definition relies on where a player spent their youth football career rather than their nationality, non-English or non-Welsh players can qualify as homegrown. For instance, Watford featured several international players representing other countries who still met the criteria to be classified as homegrown due to their early club football development in England or Wales.
Squad Lists and Bench Penalties
Following the closure of the summer transfer window, EFL clubs must submit their official squad lists and are required to include at least one club-developed player per match on the squad list or team sheet.
If a club fails to name a club-developed player for a fixture, they face a penalty of being permitted one fewer substitute on their bench for that game. In the Championship, this reduces the substitutes’ bench from nine players to eight, while in League One and League Two, it cuts the bench from seven players down to six.
Additional exemptions apply to younger players and specific positions across the divisions. Players aged under 21 are exempt from counting toward squad lists in all three EFL leagues, and goalkeepers are excluded from squad lists in League One and League Two.
Source: BBC Sport
