Non-EU slots and homegrown quota: Milan will have an eye on regulations during mercato

As AC Milan continue to be linked with players from around Europe, it is worth bearing in mind that there are various regulations that they must adhere to with regards to the squad list.

Milan are heading into a very important summer in which they must hire the right head coach and give him the correct pieces when the transfer window opens to try and bridge the gap with Inter.

In addition to operating within certain economic constraints such as Financial Fair Play and a Settlement Agreement, the management must also keep an eye on the make-up of the squad and how much Italian/non-EU influence there is.

Rules and current situation

The current rules are clear: UEFA, in order to register a 25-man squad for their competitions, require teams to have four academy products and another four players having come through academies in that country.

There is an additional stipulation to the homegrown rule: only players who between 15 and 21 years have played for 18 months in a club within an Italian club will be considered, which is why Jan-Carlo Simic for example did not count towards.

It is worth noting that players under the age of 22 are exempt from the rules, and that’s the only way to exceed the 25-player limit. Therefore, players from the Primavera can be called upon as long as they meet the aforementioned quota.

That leads us on to how Milan’s squad looks currently and how that might impact the choices that Geoffrey Moncada and co. make in the summer transfer window.