SQUADWATCH - Summer 2026

[Sutekh]

I assume our overseas contingent is still used up by Fraser and Danny K so unless we get proven Internationals we'll be looking at players from the home nations?

Believe the rules in the FL over club squads last season were…

Code: Select all

Division	Maximum Squad Size	Minimum Homegrown Players
Championship	25 players		8 players
League One	22 players		8 players
League Two	22 players		8 players

Definition of Homegrown Players
A "homegrown player" is defined as a player who has been registered with a club affiliated with the Football Association (FA) or the Football Association of Wales for a minimum of three seasons (or 36 months) before their 21st birthday. This definition applies regardless of the player's nationality or age.

Additional Rules
Each club must include at least one "club-developed" player in their matchday squad, defined as a player registered with the club for at least 12 months prior to the end of their U19 season.

Under-21 players do not count towards the squad limits and can be included in the matchday squad without registration.

Overseas players
No more than three overseas players under the age of 21 can be signed in any single transfer window and a total of no more than six overseas players under the age of 21 per season.

So this would suggest Reading can sign up to 3 more from overseas this window - but as with all overseas players they would need to meet the “points” requirements for a work permit.

[Clyde1998]

I assume our overseas contingent is still used up by Fraser and Danny K so unless we get proven Internationals we'll be looking at players from the home nations?

Believe the rules in the FL over club squads last season were…

Code: Select all

Division	Maximum Squad Size	Minimum Homegrown Players
Championship	25 players		8 players
League One	22 players		8 players
League Two	22 players		8 players

Definition of Homegrown Players
A "homegrown player" is defined as a player who has been registered with a club affiliated with the Football Association (FA) or the Football Association of Wales for a minimum of three seasons (or 36 months) before their 21st birthday. This definition applies regardless of the player's nationality or age.

Additional Rules
Each club must include at least one "club-developed" player in their matchday squad, defined as a player registered with the club for at least 12 months prior to the end of their U19 season.

Under-21 players do not count towards the squad limits and can be included in the matchday squad without registration.

Overseas players
No more than three overseas players under the age of 21 can be signed in any single transfer window and a total of no more than six overseas players under the age of 21 per season.

So this would suggest Reading can sign up to 3 more from overseas this window - but as with all overseas players they would need to meet the “points” requirements for a work permit.

I think what was being referred to was the Elite Significant Contribution, which allows for a limited number of foreign players to get a visa without making the standard requirements.

There will be some minor adjustments to the system since this post, but it's a good explainer as to what the rules to obtain a visa are.

We get two slots as a League One club. Based on what Brian Carey said at the STAR event last season (and IIRC), Daniel Kyerewaa and Liam Fraser take up both of those slots.

Essentially, we'll be limited to players with British or Irish citizenships in the transfer window unless there's someone who meets the visa points requirements who's willing to play in League One.

[morganb]

I assume our overseas contingent is still used up by Fraser and Danny K so unless we get proven Internationals we'll be looking at players from the home nations?

Believe the rules in the FL over club squads last season were…

Code: Select all

Division	Maximum Squad Size	Minimum Homegrown Players
Championship	25 players		8 players
League One	22 players		8 players
League Two	22 players		8 players

Definition of Homegrown Players
A "homegrown player" is defined as a player who has been registered with a club affiliated with the Football Association (FA) or the Football Association of Wales for a minimum of three seasons (or 36 months) before their 21st birthday. This definition applies regardless of the player's nationality or age.

Additional Rules
Each club must include at least one "club-developed" player in their matchday squad, defined as a player registered with the club for at least 12 months prior to the end of their U19 season.

Under-21 players do not count towards the squad limits and can be included in the matchday squad without registration.

Overseas players
No more than three overseas players under the age of 21 can be signed in any single transfer window and a total of no more than six overseas players under the age of 21 per season.

So this would suggest Reading can sign up to 3 more from overseas this window - but as with all overseas players they would need to meet the “points” requirements for a work permit.

I think what was being referred to was the Elite Significant Contribution, which allows for a limited number of foreign players to get a visa without making the standard requirements.

There will be some minor adjustments to the system since this post, but it's a good explainer as to what the rules to obtain a visa are.

We get two slots as a League One club. Based on what Brian Carey said at the STAR event last season (and IIRC), Daniel Kyerewaa and Liam Fraser take up both of those slots.

Essentially, we'll be limited to players with British or Irish citizenships in the transfer window unless there's someone who meets the visa points requirements who's willing to play in League One.

Yes, this is what I was referring to - I couldn't remember the official term for it but knew the two players involved and my phrases "proven internationals" referred to "meets visa requirements"! Thanks. So we are limited still then...

[Linden Jones' Tash]

Believe the rules in the FL over club squads last season were…

Code: Select all

Division	Maximum Squad Size	Minimum Homegrown Players
Championship	25 players		8 players
League One	22 players		8 players
League Two	22 players		8 players

Definition of Homegrown Players
A "homegrown player" is defined as a player who has been registered with a club affiliated with the Football Association (FA) or the Football Association of Wales for a minimum of three seasons (or 36 months) before their 21st birthday. This definition applies regardless of the player's nationality or age.

Additional Rules
Each club must include at least one "club-developed" player in their matchday squad, defined as a player registered with the club for at least 12 months prior to the end of their U19 season.

Under-21 players do not count towards the squad limits and can be included in the matchday squad without registration.

Overseas players
No more than three overseas players under the age of 21 can be signed in any single transfer window and a total of no more than six overseas players under the age of 21 per season.

So this would suggest Reading can sign up to 3 more from overseas this window - but as with all overseas players they would need to meet the “points” requirements for a work permit.

I think what was being referred to was the Elite Significant Contribution, which allows for a limited number of foreign players to get a visa without making the standard requirements.

There will be some minor adjustments to the system since this post, but it's a good explainer as to what the rules to obtain a visa are.

We get two slots as a League One club. Based on what Brian Carey said at the STAR event last season (and IIRC), Daniel Kyerewaa and Liam Fraser take up both of those slots.

Essentially, we'll be limited to players with British or Irish citizenships in the transfer window unless there's someone who meets the visa points requirements who's willing to play in League One.

Yes, this is what I was referring to - I couldn't remember the official term for it but knew the two players involved and my phrases "proven internationals" referred to "meets visa requirements"! Thanks. So we are limited still then...

On this basis, seems like investing in a super duper AI driven global player database is pretty moot...

Another glorious sunlit upland left by Boris and Nigel....

[Marcel]

I think what was being referred to was the Elite Significant Contribution, which allows for a limited number of foreign players to get a visa without making the standard requirements.

There will be some minor adjustments to the system since this post, but it's a good explainer as to what the rules to obtain a visa are.

We get two slots as a League One club. Based on what Brian Carey said at the STAR event last season (and IIRC), Daniel Kyerewaa and Liam Fraser take up both of those slots.

Essentially, we'll be limited to players with British or Irish citizenships in the transfer window unless there's someone who meets the visa points requirements who's willing to play in League One.

Yes, this is what I was referring to - I couldn't remember the official term for it but knew the two players involved and my phrases "proven internationals" referred to "meets visa requirements"! Thanks. So we are limited still then...

On this basis, seems like investing in a super duper AI driven global player database is pretty moot...

Another glorious sunlit upland left by Boris and Nigel....

Instead of wasting money on AI garbage, perhaps investing in a decent scouting network might prove to be a better option. After all it’s worked quite well in the past.