Arsenal will have to rework their squad to sign more players due to Premier League rules
Bruno Guimaraes' arrival changes the expectations how the Arsenal squad will be built
Bruno Guimaraes' arrival changes the expectations how the Arsenal squad will be built(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
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Arsenal will only be able to register one more non-homegrown player should they choose to include all 16 current individuals who meet that category. The club are keen to add at least two more players to the group before the window closes, with a defender and a wide left forward the priorities.
However, due to Premier League rules, the club will be limited to a degree in what they can do. The signings of Bruno Guimaraes and Illan Meslier added two more non-homegrown players to the Arsenal group.
Squads are made up of 25 players, maximum; Premier League rules dictate you can have up to 17 non-homegrown players. Rules dictate that players who will count as under-21s for the 2026/27 season are those born on or after January 1, 2005 – this means that Cristhian Mosquera will no longer count as an under-21 player this campaign.
The common misconception that a team must have eight homegrown players to make up the final slots in the squad is what so many often believe to be the case. Yes, in the Premier League, but UEFA do require a set number of “locally trained players” in the group, of which Arsenal have plenty and could yet acquire more.
However, there are several players who count as non-homegrown who could yet leave. Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira have both been linked with exits from the club, and both are expected to depart before the deadline is reached.
Ezri Konsa, a homegrown option, is a target to be the defensive reinforcement of the summer. Whereas both Julian Alvarez and Kenan Yildiz would both be non-homegrown players.
Arsenal, thankfully, with the expected departures, are not under pressure from the rule as things stand.