Youri Tielemans unveiled by Manchester United. (Image: Getty Images)
Premier League rules have impacted Manchester United to the point where further signings will be restricted unless members of Michael Carrick’s squad leave. The Red Devils do not need to submit their 25-man squads this month, and are planning to sell players before that deadline, but concerns may start to creep in at Old Trafford.
Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans have already joined from Chelsea and Aston Villa respectively for big money, while goalkeeper Karl Darlow has been brought in as cover between the posts. Youngster Tynan Thompson also joined this week from Tottenham. United, as are all top-flight clubs, must include eight homegrown players in their squad for the coming season. Non-homegrown players can make up the remaining 17 spots, while players aged 21 or under are exempt from that quota.
That age threshold means several United players no longer qualify for that Under-21 exemption for the 2026/27 season. Patrick Dorgu now occupies one of the non-homegrown places, while Dan Gore takes up a homegrown slot.
Gore featured against Wrexham in Saturday’s pre-season fixture but may still be moved on despite delivering an impressive performance. Likewise, Radek Vitek – also classified as homegrown – is expected to depart despite appearing at the weekend.
Alongside Dorgu, the non-homegrown quota currently stands at 15 and features new arrivals Santos and Tielemans. Also included on the list are Lammens, Altay Bayındır, Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martínez, Diogo Dalot, Manuel Ugarte, Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Joshua Zirkzee and Benjamin Sesko.
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According to Premier League regulations, a homegrown player is defined as one who “irrespective of nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to The Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).”
Consequently, winger Amad, who arrived at United as a teenager, qualified for one of the homegrown places upon reaching 21.
Patrick Dorgu counts as a non-homegrown player. (Image: Getty Images)
Amad is one of 11 homegrown players aged over 21, alongside the previously mentioned Gore and Vitek, plus Tom Heaton, Karl Darlow, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Marcus Rashford, Dermot Mee and Toby Collyer (similar to Dorgu and Gore, Collyer was born in 2004).
Nevertheless, a number of these individuals may well have departed Old Trafford before the campaign begins.
Vitek, Gore and Collyer appear the most probable exits, with Collyer heading into the final 12 months of his contract after a loan spell at Hull City.
Should all three move on, United would retain eight homegrown players while creating two additional spaces for non-homegrown recruits.
The non-homegrown quota could still rise. Bayindir has been linked with a departure following fellow goalkeeper Andre Onana’s exit, while United may exclude Ugarte from their 25-man squad after his serious World Cup injury.
While the number of available places might appear limited at present, there remains every possibility that it could expand. There is already room for Manu Kone amid speculation surrounding the France midfielder, while new signing Thompson will not count towards any quota as he is under the age of 21.
Matters could become more complex should another homegrown player depart; however, with Rashford amongst those facing an uncertain future. United may be prompted to pursue another homegrown player to fulfil their full allowance of 25 players in their official Premier League squad.
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