How many players on a Premier League matchday squad?

By Arasi Rex · Updated 15 August 2026 · 8 min read

The Premier League allows 20 players in a matchday squad, with 11 starting and 9 on the bench. That is the hard number. But the rules around who can be in that 20, how many substitutions you can actually make, and how the squad is built across a season are where most confusion lives.

This is Law 3 of the Premier League's operational rules, and it governs everything from squad registration to the timing of substitutions. Here is how it works.

How it works

Each club submits a 25-player squad list at the start of the season for players aged 21 and over. Of those 25, at least 8 must be homegrown, meaning they were trained in England or Wales for at least three years before turning 21. Under-21 players do not count against the 25, so clubs can add as many as they want from their academy or youth signings.

For any given match, the manager selects 20 players from the full squad. Eleven start, nine sit on the bench. That is the maximum. You cannot name more than 9 substitutes, even if your squad is deep.

Five substitutions are allowed per match, but they must be made in a maximum of three windows plus half-time. That means you can make five changes, but you cannot stop the clock five separate times to do it. You batch them into three stoppages, and half-time is a freebie that does not count toward the three-window limit.

Key details

Squad size limits

25 players maximum for over-21s
8 homegrown minimum within that 25
Unlimited under-21 players outside the 25
20 players maximum per matchday squad
11 starters, 9 substitutes on the bench

If a club cannot fill the 8 homegrown slots, they must simply leave the squad short. You cannot register a 25th player who is not homegrown if you only have 7 homegrown. The squad size shrinks to 24.

Substitution rules

5 substitutions per match
3 windows to make them (plus half-time)
Substitutions can be made at any stoppage, but the clock does not reset for each change
A window is any stoppage where you make one or more substitutions. If you make two subs at the 60th minute, that is one window. If you make one sub at 60 and another at 75, that is two windows used
Half-time substitutions do not count toward the three-window limit

This rule was introduced permanently after the COVID-19 pandemic trial. Before 2020, it was 3 substitutions from 7 substitutes. The change to 5 from 9 has fundamentally altered how managers approach matches, particularly in the final 30 minutes.

The homegrown rule

A player is homegrown if they spent 36 months (three years) registered with a club in England or Wales before their 21st birthday. It does not matter if they are English, Welsh, or from anywhere else. Cesc Fabregas was homegrown for Arsenal because he joined at 16 and trained there for three years before turning 21. A player who moves to England at 22 and plays for a decade is not homegrown.

The rule exists to prevent clubs from stockpiling foreign talent without developing any domestic players. It is the same principle that underpins UEFA's homegrown rules for European competitions, though the Premier League's version is slightly different.

What happens if a club breaks the rules

Fielding too many players, or an ineligible player, results in a forfeit. The match is awarded 3-0 to the opposition, or the actual result if the goal difference is greater. Clubs have been deducted points for fielding ineligible players in the past, though it is rare in the Premier League because squad lists are checked before every match.

Common confusions

"Can you name 12 substitutes?"

No. The Premier League allows a maximum of 9 substitutes. Some competitions allow more, but the Premier League settled on 9 when it expanded from 7 to accommodate the 5-sub rule. The bench cannot exceed 9 players.

"Does the goalkeeper count as a substitute?"

Yes. The 9 substitutes can include any outfield players and goalkeepers. There is no requirement to name a goalkeeper on the bench, though almost every club does. If you do not name a goalkeeper and your starter gets injured, an outfield player goes in goal. It has happened.

"Can you make 5 substitutions in one window?"

Technically yes, but practically no. You can make all 5 substitutions in a single stoppage, using one of your three windows. But you would then have no ability to respond to an injury or tactical change later. No manager does this unless the match is already decided.

"What if a player is sent off? Does that affect substitutions?"

No. A red card reduces your team to 10 players, but you still have 5 substitutions available. You cannot use a substitution to replace a sent-off player to restore the numbers. The team plays a man down for the remainder of the match.

"Can a substituted player come back on?"

No. Once a player is substituted off, they cannot return to the pitch. This is the same across all football competitions under IFAB Laws of the Game. The only exception is in some youth or friendly matches where rolling substitutions are allowed.

"What about concussion substitutes?"

The Premier League trialled permanent concussion substitutions in the 2020/21 season, where an additional substitution was allowed if a player had a suspected concussion. That trial has ended. Currently, there are no extra substitutions for concussion in the Premier League. The standard 5-sub rule applies.

How this affects match strategy

Managers now treat the first 60 minutes differently than they did before 2020. With 5 substitutions available, you can realistically change half your outfield players. This has led to:

Higher pressing intensity early in matches, knowing fresh legs can be introduced later
Earlier substitutions for injury-prone players, protecting them for the full season
More tactical flexibility in the final 30 minutes, with managers able to change formation entirely
Greater squad depth value -- a deep bench is now a genuine weapon, not just insurance

Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp were early advocates of the 5-sub rule because their squads were deep enough to benefit. Smaller clubs with weaker benches often prefer fewer substitutions because it reduces the advantage of the top clubs' depth.

Key takeaways

20 players per matchday squad: 11 starters, 9 substitutes
5 substitutions allowed in a maximum of 3 windows plus half-time
25-player squad limit for over-21s, with a minimum of 8 homegrown players
Under-21 players are unlimited and do not count against the squad cap
Substituted players cannot return to the pitch
No concussion substitutes currently exist in the Premier League

FAQ

How many players are on the pitch in a Premier League match?

11 per side, 22 total. If a player is sent off, the team plays with 10. If both teams have a red card, both play with 10. The match cannot start or continue with fewer than 7 players on either side.

How many substitutes are allowed in the Premier League?

9 substitutes can be named on the bench. Of those, 5 can be used during the match, in a maximum of 3 windows plus half-time.

What is the homegrown rule in the Premier League?

At least 8 of the 25 over-21 players in a squad must be homegrown, meaning they trained in England or Wales for three years before turning 21. Under-21 players are exempt from the limit.

Can you make 5 substitutions at half-time?

Yes. Half-time substitutions do not count toward the three-window limit. You could make all 5 substitutions at half-time if you wanted, though no manager would waste that tactical flexibility.

For more on squad building, see Premier League clubs and player registration rules.