Chelsea FC and the New Premier League Squad Rules
This year is unique as the club will need to adapt to new Premier League rules that effectively limit the squad to 25 players, eight of whom have to meet the ‘home grown’ criteria.
Gael Kakuta is not affected by the new squad rules, but how will Chelsea cope?
The season has now kicked off and Chelsea have started well however, it is important not to get carried away.
During the season there will be injuries and setbacks as the club seeks to defend its league title and the squad will be important which is complicated by the new rules which are as follows.
By 5pm on the 1st of September 2010 each club must name a squad of 25 players of those 25 players, eight of them must be ‘home-grown’. A home grown player is a player, of any nationality or age, that has spent 36 months registered with an English or Welsh club between the ages of 16 and 21.
There is no limit on the number of players under the age of 21 that can be included in a club’s squad.
The list can be amended during the January transfer window
The squad make up is as follows
Home Grown (5)
John Terry, Ross Turnbull, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Michael Mancienne
Non Home Grown (16)
Alex, Nicolas Anelka, Yossi Benayoun, Jose Bosingwa, Petr Cech, Dider Drogba, Michael Essien, Paulo Ferreira, Henrique Hilario, Branislav Ivanovic, Salomon Kalou, Florent Malouda, Nemanja Matic, Jon Obi Mikel, Ramires, Yury Zhirkov.
Notable u21’s (no squad restrictions)
Jeffrey Bruma, Franco Di Santo, Gael Kakuta, Fabio Borini, Josh McEachran, Daniel Sturridge, Patrick Van Aarnholt,
Currently Chelsea have five home grown players and 16 non-home grown players over the age of 21 meaning that there are three home grown and one non home grown squad places available prior to the 1st September deadline.
I wonder if this will have any impact on purchasing decisions in the coming weeks and even future transfer windows given the limited non home grown space available in the squad. I would certainly think that players such as Paulo Ferreria will be vulnerable should Chelsea wish to buy from overseas in the future and available squad places become scarce.
It is also likely that this rule will make future signings more likely to be English or ‘home grown’ with 3 spaces available this may be the only viable option available to the club when it looks to strengthen in future years.
This change is also likely to see the role of u21’s at the club increase and give players an extra chance to shine as understudies to more established players that do not qualify as home grown as the ability to buy in excess talent are diminished.
I am unsure if this rule will be good for football, but any rule designed to nurture young talent should be give a chance and Chelsea will have little option to incorporate the implications of this ruling into its transfer planning.
With Chelsea not filling all its squad places, there is little to worry about this season, but it will be intriguing to see the impact in future years.
