The Homegrown Player Rules were introduced in the English Premier League for the 2010/2011 season. These regulations aim to promote the development of young talent within UK youth academies, strengthen the national team (a goal emphasised by former manager Gareth Southgate), drive investment in the academy system, and reduce dependence on international signings.[1]
Rules
These rules require Premier League clubs to have a certain number of homegrown players within their 25-man squad. While the maximum squad size is set at 25 players, clubs can register an unlimited number of players under the age of 21 who must be born on or after January 1, 2003 for the upcoming season.[2]
A Homegrown Player is any player who has played for an FA affiliated club for at least three years before turning 21 years old. This definition can cause confusion as it is based solely on the player’s time spent with an English or Welsh club, not their nationality. For example, Paul Pogba and Eric Dier illustrate this distinction.
Pogba joined Manchester United's youth academy in 2009 at age 16 and spent three years at the club, developing as a player before moving to Juventus in 2012. Despite being French, Pogba qualifies as a homegrown player in the Premier League because he was registered with an English club (Manchester United) for the requisite period of time before he turned 21. [3]
In contrast, Eric Dier is considered a non-homegrown player in the Premier League despite his English nationality. This is because he spent his formative years, from age 7 to 20, at Sporting CP in Portugal and did not fulfil the requirement of being registered with an FA-affiliated club during that crucial period.
Under the Homegrown Player Rules, a Premier League club can have a maximum of 17 non-homegrown players. The rest of the squad must be made up of homegrown players. If a club lacks enough homegrown players, its squad must be smaller than 25 to ensure compliance with the rule limiting non-homegrown players.
Brexit
Brexit has significantly impacted the Homegrown Player Rules. With the end of free movement within the EU single market, English clubs can no longer sign players from the EU who are under the age of 18. Consequently, many foreign players are unable to meet the requirement of being registered with an FA-affiliated club for three years before turning 21, thereby excluding them from qualifying for homegrown status.
Under Article 19 of FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, there are number of exceptions which apply to this rule, which are as follows:
The player’s parents move to the country in which the new club is located for reasons not linked to football.
The transfer takes place within the territory of the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) and the player is aged between 16 and 18, and the clubs follow the obligations set out below:
They shall provide the player with an adequate football education and/or training in line with the highest national standards.
They shall guarantee the player an academic and/or school and/or vocational education and/or training, in addition to his football education and/or training, which will allow the player to pursue a career other than football should he cease playing professional football.
They shall make all necessary arrangements to ensure that the player is looked after in the best possible way (optimum living standards with a host family or in club accommodation, appointment of a mentor at the club, etc.).
They shall, on registration of such a player, provide the relevant association with proof that it is complying with the aforementioned obligations.
The player lives within 50 km of a national border, and the club they wish to join is within 50 km of that border. The player’s home and the club must be no more than 100 km apart. The player must live at home, and both associations must give consent.
The conditions of this article apply to any player who has never been registered with a club, is not a national of the country where they wish to register and has not lived continuously in that country for at least the last five years.
Every international transfer and first registration of a foreign minor who has lived in the country for at least the last five years requires the subcommittee's approval. The registering association must submit the application, and the former association can present its position. Approval is needed before requesting an International Transfer Certificate or first registration. Violations will be sanctioned by the Disciplinary Committee, affecting the association that failed to apply, the former association for issuing the certificate without approval, and the clubs involved in the transfer.[4]
During discussions with the Premier League, EFL, and Scottish Professional Football League, all parties agreed that the quality of British squads should not be adversely affected by Brexit. However, this outcome may be an unavoidable consequence.[5]
Clubs approach
Clubs employ various strategic approaches to comply with the Homegrown Player Rules while ensuring their squads remain competitive. One common strategy is to include homegrown players in less prominent roles, such as backup goalkeepers or squad players, to meet the homegrown quota without significantly impacting the team’s performance. By doing so, clubs can fulfil regulatory requirements while still focusing on their core, high-performing players.
Another tactic involves loaning out homegrown players to lower-tier clubs or other leagues. This approach helps manage the number of non-homegrown players in the senior squad while allowing the loanees to gain valuable playing experience. By temporarily reducing the size of the senior squad, clubs can stay within the non-homegrown player limits and still develop their homegrown talent in competitive environments.
Additionally, some clubs may invest in developing young talent through their academy systems, focusing on nurturing players who will meet the homegrown criteria in future seasons. This long-term strategy not only ensures compliance with the rules but also strengthens the club’s future prospects by cultivating a pool of homegrown talent ready to step into senior roles.
Overall, these strategies help clubs balance regulatory compliance with maintaining a competitive edge, ensuring they can both meet legal requirements and field strong teams.
Feedback
The implementation of the homegrown rules has appeared to contribute to the national team’s success, including reaching two consecutive Euro finals. However, there are concerns that these rules may partially contravene the European Union's free movement laws, which remain relevant despite the UK’s exit from the EU. Critics argue that the rules favour local players, giving them an advantage and imposing restrictions on foreign players' participation in the Premier League.
Additionally, there is a tension between the Premier League and the FA. The FA aims to prioritise the development of national football, while the Premier League seeks to maintain its global reputation as the best league in the world. Discussions have previously occurred regarding the reduction of the non-homegrown player quota, but such proposals have faced resistance from those within the Premier League who are concerned about its impact on the league's international status.[6]
References:
[1] Paul MacInnes, ‘Gareth Southgate fears lack of English players at top clubs could cost his side’, theguardian,com, 9 Nov 2019, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/nov/09/lack-england-players-under-pressure-gareth-southgate (Accessed 07 August 2024)
[2] 2023/24 Premier League squad lists, 13 September 2023 Premier League., https://www.premierleague.com/news/3681595 (Accessed: 07 August 2024).
[3] Daniel Levitt, ‘How might Brexit affect the Premier League?’ (2019) https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2019/feb/14/how-might-brexit-affect-premier-league (Accessed 07 August 2024)
[4] FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players https://resources.fifa.com/image/upload/regulations-on-the-status-and-transfer-of-players-2018-2925437.pdf?cloudid=c83ynehmkp62h5vgwg9g (Accessed 07 August 2024)
[5] Wood, M.M. (2019) 5 ways that a no-deal Brexit could affect the Premier League, Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemeehallwood/2019/01/15/5-ways-that-a-no-deal-brexit-could-affect-the-premier-league/#5cefedb73972 (Accessed: 07 August 2024).
[6] Humphries, J, Brexit means Brexit, but what does it mean for the Premier League and its players?, LawInSport. 09 December 2019, https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/item/brexit-means-brexit-but-what-does-it-mean-for-the-premier-league-and-its-players#_ftn10 (Accessed: 07 August 2024).
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