EFL: What are the homegrown player rules for Championship, League One and League Two?
We break down the English Football League's regulations regarding homegrown player registration and matchday squad requirements.
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The English Football League (EFL) enforces specific squad regulations across the Championship, League One, and League Two. Clubs must register a minimum of eight homegrown players in their squad, and name at least seven of these players in their matchday squad for league fixtures.
A homegrown player is defined as someone who has been registered with their current club, or any English or Welsh club, for at least three seasons or 36 months before their 21st birthday (or the end of the season they turn 21). Crucially, this classification is based on youth development rather than nationality, meaning international players representing other nations can qualify as homegrown if they developed within the English or Welsh football system.
These regulations apply only to league matches and are not enforced by the EFL for the FA Cup, EFL Cup, or EFL Trophy. The Premier League operates under a separate set of squad rules.
Following the close of the summer transfer window, clubs must also list at least one club-developed player on their team sheet for every match. Failure to meet this requirement results in a reduction of the substitutes' bench for that game—limiting Championship clubs to eight substitutes instead of nine, and League One or League Two clubs to six instead of seven.
Players under the age of 21 do not count towards official squad lists in any of the three EFL divisions, while goalkeepers are exempt from squad list requirements in League One and League Two.