English Football League teams "will be required to increase the number of homegrown players in their matchday squad from six to seven from next season," according to Alex Young of the London EVENING STANDARD. The Football League announced that in a bid to "help academy prospects advance to first-team duties," the EFL also agreed to name at least one "club-developed" player in a matchday squad from the '18-19 season. Should any club "fail to name a club-developed player" in its matchday squad, it will "only be able to name six substitutes, rather than the normal allocation of seven." The 72 clubs "have also approved an increase to the number of homegrown players that will have to be on a teamsheet from six to seven" (EVENING STANDARD, 4/6). SKY SPORTS' Dev Trehan reported a homegrown player is defined as a player "who has been registered with an FA or FAW affiliated club for three seasons prior to his 21st birthday," while a club-developed player is one who has been with his current team for at least 12 months prior to the end of his U19 season. EFL CEO Shaun Harvey said, "It is imperative that we provide young players not only with a platform, but also with the belief that opportunities will be made available to progress from youth to senior football" (SKY SPORTS, 4/6).
