Sheffield Wednesday face new squad rules as they prepare for League One rebuild
A major rebuild is required at Sheffield Wednesday this summer following a forgettable 2025/26 campaign.
Sheffield Wednesday must abide by different squad rules next season as they continue to draw up plans for life back in League One.
Following a calamitous period last summer, Wednesday were staring relegation to the third tier in the face before the first ball had even been kicked this season. Their squad was butchered last summer, meaning they were left at a huge disadvantage in comparison to their Championship rivals.
They were then were plunged into administration in October, triggering an automatic 12-point deduction, before having a further six points shaved off their tally at the start of December, meaning they had no chance of beating the drop. Relegation was confirmed in February after a 2-1 defeat to neighbours Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Despite all the pain, misery and uncertainty the last 12 months have brought, the Owls are now looking forward to a brighter future under the stewardship of Arise Capital Partners, who bought the club earlier this month. Supporters are looking forward to the 2026/27 campaign with confidence and belief that Wednesday can get back on their feet and start to be rebuilt.
Although the specifics of the recruitment restrictions Wednesday will be operating under this summer remain unknown at this stage, a busy summer of transfer activity is expected. Chief executive David Bruce, last week, confirmed the Owls plan to be ‘aggressive and active’ in the market.
Wednesday are in desperate need of fresh blood this summer, and it is not unrealistic to suggest they could need around 15 new players. Several areas of the squad are wafer-thin and desperately need strengthening.
Relegation to League One means Wednesday will be duty-bound to follow different squad rules to the ones they have followed in the Championship in recent years. Unlike in the second tier, where clubs can register up to 25 players, clubs in League One are only permitted to register a maximum 22.
That 22-man squad must include at least eight homegrown players, but it does not have to include goalkeepers or players under the age of 21 for them to be eligible to play in league fixtures. Clubs in League Two are required to follow the same rules.
Under EFL rule 34.9, homegrown players can be any nationality or age but to qualify, they have to have been registered with any club in England or Wales for at least three seasons or 36 months before their 21st birthday.
Following this year’s January transfer window, Wednesday only registered 18 players, five of whom were loanees, highlighting their lack of depth at first-team level.
As things stand, the players still on Wednesday’s books that will count towards the homegrown quota are Di’Shon Bernard, Jamal Lowe, Charlie McNeill, Liam Palmer, Iké Ugbo and Yan Valery, meaning the Owls, at this stage, are short of fulfilling that requirement. However, Liam Cooper and Max Lowe, both of whom are in discussions with the Owls over new deals, would count towards the homegrown quota in the event of them staying at Hillsborough.
Svante Ingelsson and Olaf Kobacki do not count towards the homegrown quota, but they will, provided they stay at Hillsborough this summer, take up two places in the permitted 22-man squad. Dominic Iorfa and Nathaniel Chalobah, who were both released by Wednesday recently, were included in the 18-man squad registered earlier this year and also counted towards the homegrown quota.
As goalkeepers do not count towards the 22-man total League One sides are required to submit, clubs must list the positions of players when they submit their squads to the EFL.
Wednesday have a number of under-21 players that manager Henrik Pedersen is likely to assess during pre-season after several of them earned game time in the Championship this term.
The Owls will be required to submit their squad list to the EFL within 24 hours of the summer transfer window closing on September 1.