Arsenal’s squad for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign has been confirmed following the conclusion of transfer deadline day. The Gunners are set to have a 25-man squad for the current campaign, which sees them sit in third spot following an opening two victories but defeat at Liverpool.
The summer has been very fruitful for Arsenal, with eight signings secured by sporting director Andrea Berta and 12 players having left either by sale, loan, or contract expiration. Mikel Arteta was hit with the most injuries of any side last season, which put a terminal dent in his hopes of silverware.
Frustratingly, already at the start of this season, he has again been faced with yet more fitness concerns. Losing seven players to injuries in the opening three weeks.
The squad is far more prepared this time for these sudden blows. The squad could yet indicate that there is room for even more investment for Berta to consider in upcoming windows.
Premier League rules dictate that you must have no more than 17 non-homegrown players in your squad. A homegrown player is defined on the official website as: “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).”
However, exceptions and special circumstances can be granted, which is the case for Noni Madueke, who, despite playing in the Netherlands for much of his youth career, spent long enough with FA-affiliated clubs to become one of the Gunners’ homegrown talents. The other seven are Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice, Ben White, Gabriel Martinelli, David Raya, and William Saliba.
The latter three were granted the status of having played for an FA-affiliated club for three years prior to turning 21. Saliba and Martinelli with Arsenal and Raya with Blackburn.
The club then have twelve non-homegrown players on their books: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Piero Hincapie, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, Martin Odegaard, Christian Norgaard, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi, Gabriel Jesus, Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz.
Four players count as part of the under-21s bracket: Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Max Dowman, and Cristhian Mosquera. However, the Spaniard, who has now turned 21, will be registered as one of the non-homegrown players for next season.
This means that Arsenal have four more non-homegrown slots they could still hypothetically fill. Whether that happens in the January transfer window or the following summer market however remains to be seen and will likely be determined by the club’s actions this season.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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