Ahead of the Premier League returning this weekend, Manchester United have officially registered their squad for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign, including a surprising name.
At the start of the summer, United created their “bomb squad”, a group of five players who were no longer going to be involved in the senior side as the club prioritised moves away from Old Trafford.
The “bomb squad” included Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia; however, as the quartet of wingers have all now left the club, Antony and Garnacho permanently, and Rashford and Sancho on loan, Malacia is the last one standing.
Interestingly, despite being in individual training since the start of the pre-season, his name has now featured on the squad list registered for the current season. Naturally all of United’s summer signings feature as well, being the first time that Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Senne Lammens, Diego Leon.
United are allowed a total of 25 players in the main squad, no more than 17 to be not considered as “homegrown”, however, senior squad members under the age of 21 years old don’t count to the squad limit.
The league rules set out that the “homegrown” criteria is defined as a player who, irrespective of their age or nationality, has been registered with a FA or FAW affiliated club for three full seasons or for 36 months, before their 21st birthday, or the end of the season when they turn 21.
As such, Tom Heaton, Dermot Mee, Rhys Bennett, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Amad Diallo all count for homegrown status, whilst several members of the senior squad, Patrick Dorgu, Ayden Heaven, Kobbie Mainoo and Leny Yoro, all come under the Under-21s registration.
Taking to their official website, Manchester United have now announced their Premier League squad;
Goalkeepers: Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton*, Senne Lammens, Dermot Mee*.
Defenders: Rhys Bennett*, Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire*, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, Luke Shaw*.
Midfielders: Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount*, Manuel Ugarte.
Forwards: Amad*, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Joshua Zirkzee.
* = Classified as homegrown.
Manchester United’s Premier League Under-21 players:
Goalkeepers: Cameron Byrne-Hughes, Elyh Harrison**, Fred Heath, Will Murdock, Zachary Watson.
Defenders: Sonny Aljofree**, Harry Amass**, Dan Armer, Patrick Dorgu, Tyler Fredricson, Ayden Heaven, Yuel Helafu, Louis Jackson**, Jaydan Kamason, Godwill Kukonki, Diego Leon, Rafe McCormack, Jay McEvoy, Albert Mills, Reece Munro, Jayden Ngwashi, Habeeb Ogunneye**, James Overy, Dante Plunkett, Jacob Watson, Leny Yoro.
Midfielders: James Bailey, Toby Collyer**, Jacob Devaney, Jayce Fitzgerald, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher, Dan Gore**, Amir Ibragimov, Edward Ibrovic-Fletcher, Sekou Kone, Kobbie Mainoo, Sam Mather, Finley McAllister, Jack Moorhouse**, Jariyah Shah, Jim Thwaites.
Forwards: Noah Ajayi, Neithan Barbosa, Gabriele Biancheri, Louie Bradbury, Nathaniel-Junior Brown, Ethan Ennis**, Enzo Kana-Biyik**, Shea Lacey, Samuel Lusale, Bendito Mantato, Ashton Missin, Victor Musa, Chido Obi, James Scanlon, Malachi Sharpe, Ethan Wheatley**, Ethan Williams**.
** = currently out on loan.
