Premier League rules dictate that clubs must have a minimum of eight "home-grown" players among the group of 25. To earn that status, a player doesn't necessarily have to have been produced by United, but they must have been at an FA-affiliated club for at least three years before turning 21.
So while Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay were United youth players, the likes of Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Mason Mount also qualify as "home-grown" after coming through the ranks of other English clubs – Sheffield United, Crystal Palace and Chelsea respectively.
By virtue as of the home-grown rule, there is also a limit of 17 players who don't fit that criteria.
In this season's 25-man squad, United have a 16-9 split between those who are not home-grown players and those who are.
The other detail to explain is that Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund, the latter costing United £64m plus £8m in add-ons during the summer transfer window, are not included in the squad.
That is because players who were born on or after 1 January 2002 do not count towards the squad limit, with clubs able to use an unlimited number of Under-21 players throughout a season should they so wish. Garnacho is 19, while Hojlund is 20. Both will play major roles in 2023/24.
Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo and Hannibal Mejbro are all absent for the same reason and it will not affect their eligibility to play in the Premier League this season.
United have included Antony in the squad. The winger is currently back home in Brazil "until further notice" amid assault allegations against made by three women. There is also a place for Jadon Sancho, for whom there were failed talks over a loan to Al Ettifaq, as the club continues to straighten things out after he claimed he was being scapegoated after being accused of poor training performance.
Donny van de Beek's name is present too, despite United official threatening it may not be if he hadn't left before the squad deadline. A potential transfer to either Turkey or Qatar, where the windows remains open for another few days, continues to be explored.
Man Utd 2023/24 Premier League squad
Goalkeepers: Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton*, Andre Onana
Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Jonny Evans*, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire*, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Sergio Reguilon, Luke Shaw*, Raphael Varane, Aaron Wan-Bissaka*
Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Scott McTominay*, Mason Mount*, Facundo Pellistri, Donny van de Beek
Forwards: Antony, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford*, Jadon Sancho*
*home-grown player
