Article by Cosmin Nistor – published Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 5:30 pm / Updated Wednesday, October 15, 2025 17:30
Premier League could go through the biggest change in recent years. The officials of several clubs in the England Championship discussed the possibility that the coaches could make six changes per match and can use extended lots of 28 players, instead of 25 CA at present.
The ideas were discussed last week, at the General Assembly of the European Football Clubs (EFC) – the new name of the former European Club Association (ECA), which brings together over 820 clubs from the 55 member countries, according to The Sun.
Among the clubs present were Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, along with giants such as PSG, Inter and Barcelona.
The main purpose of the proposal is to reduce the overload of the players, considering the increasingly crowded calendar and the large number of injuries registered in the last seasons.
What would change
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6 changes per match, but also in 3 replacement windows, so as not to extend the game time
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Lots of 28 players (instead of 25), to allow coaches to turn the team easier
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Cost increases – several contracts, salaries, commissions and transfer fees
An official of an English club explained to the British source:
“All options must be taken into account. We discuss the possibility of 28 players and a sixth player entered. But that also means additional costs for each club. ”
Commissions are skeptical about the effects
The International Union of FIFPRO players proposes to limit the number of matches per season to 55, but the clubs believe that the solution is not realistic.
Also, PFA (Professional Footballers Association) in England has reserves on the idea of extended lots:
“Even if there are more players in the lot, most of the holders will continue to travel and be part of the match lots. That does not eliminate mental pressure and mental fatigue”, The representatives of the union transmitted.
Increasing the number of changes, a precedent from pandemia
Premier League introduced the rule with five changes in May 2020, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. After a short return to three changes in the 2020-2021 season, the rule of the five changes was definitively reintroduced starting with the 2022-2023 season.
Since then, the percentage of the goals scored by reserves has increased significantly:
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In the 1992-93 season, only 4.7% of the goals were scored by players from the bench.
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Currently, the percentage has reached a historical record of 16.1%.
Since the new change could be entered
Any modification of the regulation must first be approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body that decides on the laws of the game. At this moment there is no official proposal on the table, but the increasing support from the top clubs could accelerate the process.
If adopted, the rule could enter into force at the earliest in season 2026-2027.
