Some of Europe’s biggest football clubs — including several Premier League sides — have been holding private talks about increasing the number of substitutes allowed in a match to six, as part of wider efforts to reduce player fatigue and manage overloaded schedules.

At the European Football Clubs (EFC) general assembly in Rome last week, club representatives met to discuss various issues affecting the modern game. Although the idea was not on the official agenda, several clubs reportedly used the opportunity to hold informal discussions about expanding matchday squads from 25 to 28 players and introducing a six-substitute system.

Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Nottingham Forest were among the Premier League clubs represented at the meetings in Italy.

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Any change to the substitution rules would need to be approved by football’s global law-making body, the International Football Association Board (Ifab). At present, there is no timeline for when — or if — such an alteration might be implemented.

The Premier League initially introduced five substitutes in May 2020, when football resumed under strict COVID-19 restrictions. That temporary measure was rolled back to three substitutes for the 2020–21 season, before the league voted in favour of a permanent five-substitute rule from 2022–23 onwards.

Currently, teams can also make a sixth substitution if replacing a player with a suspected head injury — a rule designed to prioritise player safety.

The concept of increasing registered squads from 25 to 28 players has been floated as a potential way to manage player workload more effectively, particularly given the rise in match intensity and fixture congestion across domestic, European, and international competitions.

Supporters of the idea argue that larger squads would allow coaches to rotate more frequently, protecting players from burnout and overuse injuries. The conversation has gained traction in the wake of recent concerns about player welfare and even talk of potential strike action from professional footballers.

For context, Tottenham’s 19-year-old defender Archie Gray was included in an extraordinary 80 matchday squads last season across club and international fixtures — a joint European high alongside Real Madrid midfielder Arda Güler, aged 20. Gray made 48 appearances in total, helping Spurs to lift the Europa League and contributing to England Under-21s’ victory at Euro 2025.

However, sources close to the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) have raised doubts about whether expanding squads or allowing six substitutes would genuinely alleviate pressure on players.

Their concern lies in the fact that squad size changes do not prevent players from travelling or being required to prepare for matches, even if they do not play. This means the physical and mental demands of constant travel, training, and readiness remain unchanged.

As one PFA source suggested, mental fatigue and time away from home continue to weigh heavily, regardless of the number of substitutions permitted during matches.

In June, UEFA, the EFC, FifPro Europe, and European Leagues announced a joint research project aimed at studying injury trends, performance levels, and the broader implications of congested fixture lists on player health.

The move followed increasing concerns voiced by players, coaches, and unions over the intensity of the modern football calendar. Many have pointed to the growing number of international tournaments, commercial tours, and expanded domestic competitions as key contributors to fatigue and burnout.

Last month, FifPro, the world players’ union, published its fifth annual report on player workload. The findings highlighted the toll that travel, training, and constant readiness take on footballers, even when they do not appear on the pitch.

The report stated: “Even if the player does not end up playing any minutes, they still have to be physically present and fully participate in team preparations, mentally prepare, while often spending time away from home and undertaking international travel. As such, these occasions are also part of the player’s working time commitments.”

This reinforces the growing view within the sport that rest, recovery, and mental health need to be treated with the same importance as tactical and technical preparation.

The European Football Clubs (EFC) organisation represents over 800 men’s and women’s clubs from 55 countries, making it one of the most influential bodies outside of official governing organisations like UEFA.

Among those attending last week’s meetings were European giants Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, and Barcelona — clubs that have long pushed for reform to help balance competitive demands with the realities of a crowded footballing calendar.

While there is no official proposal yet, the very fact that discussions around six substitutes and 28-player squads are taking place at the highest levels suggests a growing appetite for change.

Whether the idea gains traction with Ifab and domestic leagues remains to be seen, but one thing is clear — the debate around player welfare in elite football is far from over.