Premier League 2025/26 Retained Lists: Clubs Focus on Youth and Strategy
The Premier League’s 2025/26 squads are beginning to harden into shape, and the retained lists tell their own story. This is the point in the year when sentiment is stripped away and strategy stands alone. Clubs have declared who they trust to carry them into the new campaign – and who will be left to find a new home.
What emerges is a league doubling down on youth, versatility and resale value, while still ring‑fencing its elite core.
Arsenal lock in a title-chasing core
Arsenal’s list reads like a club determined to stay at the sharp end of the division. The spine remains intact: Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, William Saliba and Bukayo Saka are all retained, as expected, but the depth around them is striking.
Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Jesus (Fernando De Jesus, Gabriel) stay on to give Mikel Arteta options up front, while Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard continue as flexible attacking pieces. In midfield, Mikel Merino and Martín Zubimendi add control and presence, suggesting Arsenal intend to dominate the ball in every stadium they visit.
There is also a clear commitment to the next wave. Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis‑Skelly and a cluster of scholars, including Gabriel Sebastian Arteta Bernal and Oluwatoyosi Ogunnaike, remain in the system. Arsenal are not just protecting their present; they are ring‑fencing the future.
Manchester City keep their galaxy of stars together
Manchester City’s retained list is exactly what rivals did not want to see. Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Jack Grealish all stay, while the creative chaos of Jeremy Doku and the emerging talent of Claudio Echeverri and Sávio remain in-house.
There is no sign of a reset. Instead, City have secured continuity across the pitch. Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and Rico Lewis offer tactical flexibility at the back, while Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic stay to rotate through midfield.
Even in goal, City are loaded: Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford are both retained, underlining the club’s depth in every department. The message is simple – the champions are not loosening their grip.
Manchester United commit to a rebuild with teeth
Across town, Manchester United’s retained list underlines a squad in transition but no longer drifting. The club has nailed down its young core: Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho (via Borges Fernandes, Bruno Miguel as the creative fulcrum), Rasmus Højlund’s successor profile in Benjamin Sesko, and defensive pillars Lisandro Martinez and Leny Yoro.
Andre Onana stays in goal, while Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot remain part of the defensive pool. Mason Mount, Manuel Ugarte and Matheus Santos Carneiro da Cunha provide options in midfield, suggesting United intend to be more aggressive and mobile in the centre of the pitch.
The academy pipeline is again prominent. Shea Lacey, Amir Ibragimov and a raft of scholars are retained, a sign that United still believe their long-term answers can come from Carrington as much as the transfer market.
Liverpool reload without losing their identity
Liverpool’s retained group shows a club trying to evolve while clinging to its competitive edge. Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s creative replacement routes through Conor Bradley and others remain in place, ensuring leadership at the back.
The attack looks stacked. Cody Gakpo, Harvey Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai stay, and Florian Wirtz and Federico Chiesa headline a refreshed creative unit. Alexander Isak adds a new dimension up front, while Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo continue to provide control in midfield.
Behind them, Stefan Bajcetic and a line of academy talent – from Trey Nyoni to Keyrol Figueroa (with an offer) – signal that Liverpool are not willing to break their tradition of blooding young players, even as they chase silverware.
Chelsea’s super-squad experiment rolls on
Chelsea’s list is vast, eclectic and expensive. It also remains intact. Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia stay as the heart of a midfield rebuilt at huge cost. Cole Palmer remains the creative hub, with Mykhailo Mudryk, Alejandro Garnacho, Nicolas Jackson and David Datro Fofana all still on the books.
Defensively, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Reece James and Malo Gusto are all retained, while new and emerging names such as Jorrel Hato and Filip Jorgensen add further depth.
The volume of scholars and young professionals – from Kendry Paez to Shumaira Mheuka and Jimmy‑Jay Morgan – shows Chelsea are not stepping away from their aggressive recruitment of teenage talent. The challenge now is turning that mass into a coherent team.
Tottenham and West Ham double down on ambition
Tottenham’s retained list crackles with attacking intent. James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison stay, but the real intrigue lies in the newer names. Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel and Xavi Simons are all present, pointing to a front line built on fluid movement and individual flair.
Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro remain as the defensive core, while Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr anchor midfield. Spurs are not trimming; they are reinforcing.
Across London, West Ham’s stance is equally bold. Jarrod Bowen, Edson Alvarez and Tomas Soucek stay, while Niclas Fullkrug and Crysencio Summerville hint at a more adventurous attacking approach. The club has kept its blend of experience and promise, with Konstantinos Mavropanos and Maximilian Kilman forming a rugged defensive partnership.
Newcastle, Aston Villa and Brighton refuse to blink
Newcastle United’s retained group looks built for Europe, not just survival. Bruno Guimaraes, Sven Botman, Sandro Tonali and Alexander Isak’s attacking foil Yoane Wissa all remain, while Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga keep the wide areas dangerous. Nick Pope stays as the last line of defence, and the club retains a strong contingent of young players like Lewis Miley and Travis Hernes.
Aston Villa, fresh from their rise under Unai Emery, have chosen continuity over disruption. Ollie Watkins, John McGinn, Emiliano Martinez and Pau Torres stay, while Youri Tielemans and Leon Bailey remain part of a squad designed to compete on multiple fronts. Victor Lindelof, Donyell Malen and Ian Maatsen add depth and pedigree.
Brighton, predictably, look like a recruitment department’s dream. Evan Ferguson, Kaoru Mitoma, Pascal Gross and Carlos Baleba are all retained, with Georginio Rutter, Yankuba Minteh and Jeremy Sarmiento offering further attacking variety. Behind them, Bart Verbruggen and Jason Steele stay as goalkeeping options, while the scholar list is thick with potential.
Established names, new shapes in the chasing pack
Fulham keep their core together: Bernd Leno, Antonee Robinson, Calvin Bassey and Sander Berge all stay, while Emile Smith Rowe and Oscar Bobb provide technical quality higher up the pitch. Rodrigo Muniz remains as a focal point, and the club has protected a stream of young talent with multiple contract offers.
Crystal Palace’s retained list suggests evolution rather than revolution. Dean Henderson, Joachim Andersen, Tyrick Mitchell and Jefferson Lerma stay, with Matheus Franca and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi offering attacking promise. Newer names such as Brennan Johnson, Ismaila Sarr and Yeremy Pino give Palace a sharper cutting edge in transition.
Everton, still wrestling with off-field pressures, have opted for stability where they can. Jordan Pickford, Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko remain the defensive bedrock. In midfield, James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall stay on, while Iliman Ndiaye and new attacking profiles aim to ease the scoring burden.
Brentford, so often smarter than their budget, retain Ethan Pinnock, Nathan Collins, Mathias Jensen and Vitaly Janelt. Keane Lewis‑Potter and Kevin Schade stay as wide threats, while Caoimhin Kelleher and Hakon Valdimarsson give them options in goal. The number of offers to younger players underlines their long-term planning.
Forest, Bournemouth, Wolves and Burnley play the long game
Nottingham Forest’s list is lengthy and telling. Morgan Gibbs‑White, Callum Hudson‑Odoi, Murillo and Ibrahim Sangare all remain, while Taiwo Awoniyi and Arnaud Kalimuendo stay to carry the attacking load. The club has kept faith with a broad squad, banking on depth to avoid another relegation scrap.
Bournemouth’s retained players show a squad built around Dominic Solanke, Luis Sinisterra, Marcos Senesi (with an offer) and Justin Kluivert. The Cherries also hold on to promising profiles such as Alex Scott, Romain Faivre and Enes Unal, reinforcing their intent to stay progressive in possession.
At Wolves, the emphasis is on athleticism and flexibility. Hee‑Chan Hwang, Sasa Kalajdzic, Jean‑Ricner Bellegarde and Boubacar Traore all stay, supported by Jose Sa, Hugo Bueno and Ki‑Jana Hoever. The club has retained a deep pool of forwards and wide players, keeping their tactical options open.
Burnley, who have invested heavily in youth and development, continue that path. Louis Beyer, Josh Cullen, Zeki Amdouni and Lyle Foster are all retained, while Hannibal Mejbri, Zian Flemming and Jacob Bruun Larsen remain as creative sparks. Multiple “Extended” tags across the list show a club keen to protect value even after a difficult season.
Leeds, Sunderland and the promoted hopefuls set their stall out
Leeds United’s retained group is built to compete, not just survive. Ethan Ampadu, Pascal Struijk and Max Wober remain in defence, with Ilia Gruev and Anton Stach anchoring midfield. Up front, Dominic Calvert‑Lewin, Joel Piroe, Wilfried Gnonto and Largie Ramazani all stay, giving Leeds a powerful attacking mix.
Sunderland’s list hints at a club refusing to be overawed by the top flight. Granit Xhaka, Nordi Mukiele, Enzo Le Fée and Simon Adingra all feature, supported by a strong defensive unit including Daniel Ballard and Trai Hume. Brian Brobbey and Hemir Semedo provide presence in attack, while a sizeable scholar group keeps the pathway open.
West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and the rest of the pack know that survival and progress will hinge on more than names on a sheet. But in a league where planning is everything, these retained lists are the first clear glimpse of who is ready, who is gambling, and who believes their current group can carry them through the storm of 2025/26.
The contracts are filed. The squads are set. Now the real judgement will come on the pitch.
